The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, March 18, 1885, Image 2
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The Abbeville Messenger
M. L. BONHAM, JR.,) 1VI1
T- I\ COTHRAN, V
J AS. S. I'KKKIN, ) RIKTOH8
WEDNESDAY, MARCH, 18, 1885.
Tli.VCHERS' EXAMINATIONS ANI>
Til Kilt SAIjAUIKS.
Wc arc awaro that if is much easier
to tear down than to build?easier to
find fault than to rectify. We are also
aware that there are certain subjects
upon which the press of U?e State are
over ready to pounce, and write voluminous
articles, which in their last
analyses, mean thjit the authors of them
lnivo run out of everything elsj to
write about. Knowing these facts, and
;?lso that the Public School system, and
Trial Justices, are chief among the
subjects referred to, we dare venture a
few observations on the present management
of our public schools.
Our first objection is to the present
plan of examining teachers to ascertain
men giuuc.
We submit in the first place, that it
is not a fair test of the capacity of a
teacher. With the exception of some
nf the principles of grammar and arithmetic,
the other questions are merel}'
those of memory, which are as likely to
escnpe the minds of the most competent
teachers, as of those not so well
capacitated to fill the high and honorable
calling of the teacher. A numbet
of the questions, too, are catch-questions,
and no one will surely contend
that they afford a just means of testing
the capacity of a teacher. We unhesitatingly
admit, th a thunder the exisjjnj)
mmr examination is ai:
absolute necessity, but we contend alsc
that the systeip of examination as it
now is, tends to do away with the ven
object it jiims at, viz.: competency ir
vuubu miu arc iu u'uuii uur iijsiiij^ gi'ii*
orations. How do we substantiate this
bold assertion ? The only, requirement
for the obtaining a first grade certificate
is a sufficient knowledge of the following
branches, viz. : Geography, Arith
metic, Grammar and History, leaving
out of consideration the moral character
of the teacher, which is presumed
The sixteen year old school boy, then
with knowledge on no other subjects
ranks with the ripest scholar and th<
highest graduate of our best colleges, s<
far as the Public School is concerned
Where then is the incentive for one wh<
expects to devote his life to the Publi<
Schools, to attain more than a knowl
edge of the branches required ? Tin
diplomas of the colleges, chartered b;
the State, are not recognized, and out
side of personal ambition, there is noth
ing to induce our teachers to attorn
these colleges, inasmuch as they know
with liftle or no expense to themselvesthey
can become sufficiently well ac
quainted with tho studies required b
law, to pass the required examinatior
without incurring the inconvenienc
of attending college. If proficiency o
scholarly attainment then. Ik ?-lmf
examination aims a I, docs it not in i)
elf do away with its very object. ?
If tho diplomas _$f our college* wey
recognised,.woiiid not (that of it?e!f&
Pan incentive to tiiftae who expected &
teaching their profusion, to at
-coll Sges. to obtain them, and
' at the same time add to their usefulness
as teachers, hy increasing their abilit}'
Aro not the Presidents and faculties
, of our'colleges to be trusted ? Would
they give diplomas to those unworlhj
of them ? Such objections we are sur<
no one will dare raise who has ain
knowledge whatever of the charactei
of the men who fill those iiositions.
That the salaries also, of our teacher.1
are too small, we are firmly convinced
When we remember that even in thi>
day of free education, that collegiate in
Btruction, such as every one should hav<
who intends to make teaching his pro
fnssion, costs both time and money, car
fl*l> Rf * 1* ? . ** ' *
?* v r? vuuci vtia?? w u nave so iow loncii
ers in our Public Schools distinguishes
for their professional ability ? It is i
matter of dollars and cents with them
and thoy naturally seek other spheret
where their merit is more appreciated
financially, if not more needed. A poor
incompetent teacher is dear at an}' price,
and economy in this direction is generally
fatal, being absolutely injurious tr
pupils, and positively sinful in those responsible
for it. 'Toor pay, pool
preach" has grown into an axiom, and il
we offer our best teachers no more pei
month, than can be made by a common
day laborer who has served no apprenticeship,
and undergone no training,
have wo the right to look for any bettei
results from our public schools ?
We do not mean to criticise specially
any aotion of our present School Commissioner
and his Board of KxMiiiini.ru
for as Mr. Hodges states in a card found
elsewhere in the Mkssenoeh, they found
tho present practices and grade of salaries
in vogue when thoy cnnie into office,
and owing to the fact that orrr one-third
of the present school your had passed,
they thought it impracticable to change
the present system for this scholastic
year. Wo hope howover, for the sake
of the children of our dayj that they
inay find it consistent with their views,
pot only to raifte_the salaries of our teachers,
but to oall the attention of the proper
authorities to the matter of thoir examination.
^
We are convinced these are two crying
evils, and when removod, believe
that the day is not far distant when our
Public Schools will become what they
paght to be, our pride and our boast.
. JLeep'ftaot-on the railfo*dquestion.
lfg|
THE RAIL HO AD SITUATION. 7i
Abbeville has never been moro thoroughly
interested in the question of 1
rail roads than now. Last week this in- ?
lerest rose to fever heat?everybody .
talked rail road, and the views were
many and divergent. The report of the v
delegatus to Jharleston had been made
public, through the papers, and a meeting
had been called for Friday night to f
hear their formal report. The question '
of voting the bonds for $25,(XH) to the
Cumberland (Jap ltoad, as it is called
. 1
for brevity, was being generally discussed.
And the friends of that Koad
argued strenuously in favor of immediate
action by the town. In the mean
time those who preferred the road to '
Verdery argued no less zealously in that
behalf, Unfortunately some feeling
grew out of all this discussion. Some
men took sides from motives of policy
and politics, others perhaps fro in selfish
HIii > 111 uiiuri'M, aim muuj iiuxiestly
and frankly <li Ho red in their views
of what was host. So there was threatened
a serious division of public sentiment
upon u question the only hope of
whose successful achievement lies in
the united action of the whole community.
On Thursday afternoon an informal
meeting of some of the citizens was
i called in Mr. lionet's ollice, with a view
to discussing the situation aim reconcilI
ing our differences. The discussion
was wholly informal, and nearly all
present expressed their views. Hut
far from elfccting its purpose / the
| meeting seemed to r increase the
r agitation and iivtori-^rrly" the bitterness.
. So that ma^jrfveiit to the meeting on
r. Jiftrtay uigSc expecting a scene of criin,
ination and recrimination, hut happily
, were disap'poiuted. The temper of the
I discussion was most excellent, and the
r action of the meeting most conservative
i and wise.
It were eminently unwise and injudi
cious to have adopted any cast iron rosl
olutions that hound, us hand and foot
> to either, or indeed both, of the enter.
prises proposed. Suppose the meeting
. had declared in favor of the Cumhert
land Gap lino and discarded the other,
. what assurances have we that Charleston
will succeed in raising the .$500,000
esselial to its completion '? On the other
hand if it had declared for the Yor1
. dery route there is no more assurance
j that the Georgia Central would equip ami
run thcroiul if we graded it. So it was
j clearly the part of wisdom to hold aloof
(. from the adoption of resolutions that
. would commit us bej'ond recall to eithP
er of them. We must wa:t. It may be
^ a slow policy, but it is safe nnd prudent.
. We have made a proposition to Charles.
ton and she is endeavoring to meet it. If
-I will know in a few weeks it is said,
she does the Road will he built. We
Why then recede from our own proposition
and possibly lose our last chance
of securing a place on a grand trunk
( line of railway, that will unite us on
^ the one hand with the Deep Water, and
on the otlior with the West. Moreover,
r
we lose nothing by waiting to learn the
result of Charleston's efforts. We have
no charter for_lh& Vortlery Road, and
HhiVJd nnt nnw nrnraud ??!
tmr;- r ?
j j Werpjyr?Mid<>n*~thnt route. Moreover,
P1 gjbod faith requires us to await -Charles
(t: wrtVr nJtioif upon the proposition we
I have submitted to her. We sent delegates
to them?we cannot repudiate our
action. Nevertheless, we cannot aiford
to say point blank that we will not conJ
aider the Verderv route, for it may be
that we shall find it to our interest to
adopt it, and that means may be found
' through its medium of obtaining
promptly that relief we so much need.
The fear has been expressed that
Chareston may prefer a connection with
" the Savannah Valley 'iailraad and may
give Abbeville the go-by. We are of
" opinion that this fear is groundless.
Doubtles a junction with that Itoad is
' desirable and may be allocled ; but the
present Directors will never consent
' that this shall be done at the expense of
Abbeville and Due West and the other
' towns on the upper end of th<> line. In
1 addition to this, the charter, we are in?
formed stipulates that the Road shall
* run by the placjs named therein.
' Meantime don't Jet there be engender'
ed any bad feeling in our midst. We
' have seen in the last week exhibitions
of feelings and motives
' on both sides of this mipsliim Mint
are not to the credit of those who I
entertain them, nor calculated to advance
tho interests they advocate; let
us discuss these things dispassionately,
' and decide them upon business principles
with an eye single to the good of the
1 whole community ; meantime, then, out
of all this agitation will grow an enthusiasm
and spirit that will, before another
twelve months have gone by, give to
Abboville the rail road facilities so ini
dispensihlc to her continued prosperity
I and advancement.
1
"KlliX I>KIKI> DKACOXS."
We had intended in our issue of last
' week to refer to the remarkable editorial
contained in the Pre.sw and lianner
1 of the previous week, in reference to
1 the fitness of pious men, or "'kiln dried
Deacons."to be Judges. We did not
carry out our intention because we were
suddenly called off before our editorial
(uuurs wore none, and liccuusc, too, of
tho unusual pressure on our columns by
the report of tho rail road meeting in
Charleston. And we do so now only
because we do not desire that tho pub'
lie should receive the impression that
the most eccentric and unusual views
contained in that article, are entertained
by this people or indeed by anybody here
save the editor of the Press and Ban
. . _ 4
PTOSIS'*' ^ ..^v'--V
er, so far as we can 1cm n.
The gist of his argument is that very
cligious men, arc apt to be too severe
in the poor sinners who c<fcno before li<
hem for punishment, and hence are not
mpartial .Judges. We do not know that ^
he occupants of the Judicial Bench in
iouth Carolina are more or less religous
than the same number of men en- u
caged in any other walk of li*o. The
lossession of religion lias not been the
tine qua mm of any man's elevation to j,,
he .1 udiriary. Nor do we know that ^
the lack of it ha* operated against such j,
.devation. l>ut it is surely a ?\ueer iilva ;ll
that its possession should operate
igainst the judicial advancement of its (>
possessor. The eccentricities of action u
ill* one or two men on the Bench, are not n
sullicient basis for an atta< 1< on the efleel |
:tiid inlluence of religion, and we enter j,
Liur protest against such heretical doc- ?
trincs.
KXTlt \0111>1XA1CY. '
This extraordinary passage occurs in '
a letter of the Abbeville correspondent =
of the Columbia J{et/isfei\ in regard to
il... ,-....,1 r ?....? I x
'""""o
night : "There was a strong disposition
"in (ho meeting to cas the matter aside, \
"and goto work on some enterprise of
"our own. Hut time for Charleston to 1
"report wa^tfsliw'il granted," and this |
"was all that was done." The matter to x
he eajjt aside was the Carolina, Cumher- (
Iwfiaiul ( Jap and (.'hieago Railroad. Now *
if any person will take the accounts of '
the remarks of the diHeront gentlemen i
in the meeting, and say that they indica- i
ted "astrong disposition in tin? meeting
to cast the matter aside " then that per- 1
\
son has a curious idea ol strength of ;
O 1
sentiineul. We would like to hear an (
impartial analysis of the speeches made
in the meeting hy a disinterested per- ?
son, and hear his decision. Beyond
doubt there is a strong and respectable i
advocacy of the \'erdery road. I?ut the '
action of the meeting of Krid.iv niirht '
? - i
does not in our opinion, show that
there was any such powerful disposition <
111 iiiv un.ciui^ iv.? tiiM iiMuu Lin: \jiiiu~ j
herlaml (lap Road. Nor that lime to I
hear from Charleston was "t/rrintc<l" as
a special favor l?y tliose desiring to en si
it aside. On the contrary, it serins to
us this conservstive and sensible policy
was the practically unanimous sentiment
of the meeting.
1'OSTMASTKII IJooXK, of Newh'TrV luiS
tendered to President Cleveland the resignation
of his olllce. We suppose he
cannot conscientiously hold oflice under
a Democratic administration, having for
long a time affiliated with the Republicans.
Tnr. rulo against J. T. Xix, l'sq., <f
the tJrcenvillft bar, requiring Itiin to
j.,,,,. i.u .>.,..,1.1 ..... i... .1:.. I
v ,, vutiiiv n ? i I?c .lMUiiivi IIUI (/V Iliabarred
for unprofessional conduct has
been dismissed by his Honor, Judge
Aldrich.
Y ksteiway was St. Patrick's day. We
have pn.ow outside, tT'Higy interesting
article on thpen 7N"I
Rev. .Robert Lathan, 1). I)., and which '
Vrill well repay a perusal.
A Cnril l'rom tlic School Coin mis- (
Hioncr. .
As the Mksskxhkii has furnished its read- 1
era with an extract From the A'? >r* and C'our- *
it r in which the editor of that paper makes a |
just and true criticism upon tli low monthly
salary of teachers r.f public Free schools in
Abbeville County, 1 think it just to tlie ores- '
cut County Hoard oF Kxaminers, as well as t
to the lust Hoard, that I should make a state- (
m en t. |
The Inst t^chot 1 Commissioner ordered the
schools to be opened on the 1st oF November, '
1884. The present Hoard did not conic into <
ollicc until the 1st of January, ISHj. If wc |
take therefore tlie length of the last school |
term as a basis of calculation we will .>-ee that
the schoftl of Abbeville County had been running
over one-third of the present school 3
year before we came into otlice. In view oF t
this fact, and other circumstance*, we thought |
it b;st to let the pay of teachers for this
vcar remain the same as adopted by the last
Hoard. '
It is our opinion that the monthly pay of
teachers should be raised. There is there- i
litre, no "bloody chasm" between us ami the 1
.XnCM and Couritr after all. Wo are now, |
ami have been all tlie while, fully in accord <
with the .Xtirn uml Courier, on the subject of
the pay of teachers, and the dignity and im- \
portauee of their voculion. i
I have been in a position to know Ihc views t
of the last administration on the subject. As i
far as I knew they were iiuaiiiinoiislv in favor .?
of higher wages for teachers, fhey first i
adopted these "starvation rates," with the t
hope of compelling the patrons of county I
schools to pay by fees, at least as much us
tbuy received from tho public school fund, i
On page 40 of the las', report of the State i
Superintendent of Kducation, in the report i
of the last School Commissioner of Abbeville j
County, is found the following: sentence t
which expresses the views of the last administration
: "The writer still advocates the
plan of reducing the teachers' salaries, be- 1
lieving that there is no other way (o extend 1
the term of the schools and induce the pa- ,v
trons to supplement." I
I do not desire to say anything as to the
success or failure of the plan. My reason for 1
making this slateineut is to show to the pub- I
lie, that however corrupt Abbeville County I
may be on some matters, her highest school .
officers are not so ignorant, ungrateful a id
hoosicr-likc as not to appreciate the high calling
of the teacher fully as much as the *Sa- 1
vunto&y the sea. I
We believe that higher wages to the teach- |
era, meaiia better education to all the people ;
and better education means "better investments
for capital, higher wages to the-labor- 1
ing man, and greater glory to the American <
man." "Oko. C. Hoiiuks. (
Sch'l Com'r Abb. County. .
1
A1>VICK TO MOTHlOItS. I
Are yon disturbed at night ami bro
ken of your rest by h sick child suitor- <
ing nml crying with pain of cutting <
teeth? If so, send at once and get a
bottle of Mits. WiNsi.o\v's Xootiiix? Syi?- !
up l'olt ('llir.DCKS' Tkktiiinu. I:- value 1
is incalculable. It will relieve tin* poor
little sufferer immediately. Depend upon
it. mothers, llu r.-is no mistake about ;
it. It cures dysentery and dintrhwu, rc- J
gulates the stomach and bowels, cures 1
wind colic, softens the gutns, reduces in- J
A.mu.nlinn .. rwl
uuMMimuuiif UIMI ft i wn lunu aiiu UllUl^y IU ]
the whole sj'stem. Mus. Winsi.oW'h (
Soothing Syhui' voit Ciiii.drkn Tkktii- 1
iko is pleasant to the taste, and is the 1
proscription of one of the oldest and best ]
female nurses and physicians in the i
United States, and is for sale by all <
druggist* throughout the world. Price j
26 ccnta a bottle. 5-ay
Rail Road Meeting.
^ St
iVUGM CUOWD-PULiIi DISCUS- R
SION.
o
cport of I)?>loxn(CH?Pcstinas Ijonte ?
tlio Policy?No Precipitation?"Walt. ''
For several days last week public sen- ^
mcnt ran high on the rail road queson.
The delegates sent by the meet- v
igof the 31st January to Charleston '
?d returned and the papers had made ^
nown the result of their eflbrts in be- t
alf or the Carolina, Dumberlaud (lap i
nd Chicago Railroad. In the meantime
le advocates of the branch road to Verery
were industriously arguing the benfits
and advantages of their route, and i
inch feeling was evinced on both sides. '
<!.? ..r a.. oi..< > I
IIU IUVJWIUQ UI uiu oiM ui .ianuary mlourned
subject to the call of its chair- (
lan. ^ i
Last week the chairman, through the
own papers, called a meeting of the
iti/.ens for Friday night, in the Court
louse, to hear the report of the dele;ates
to the meeting in Charleston. At
ho hour of meeting the hall was filled
villi interested citizens.
At 8 o'clock Mr. I'arker called the
neciiug to^rder, and proceeded to state
ts object. lie said :
I, as chairman of the committee aplointed
by the previous meeting, to atend
the meeting to bo called in Charleson.
went to Charleston On Mondhyin adance
of the meeting, at the request of
ievernor llagood. And on Tuesday atended
a meeting of the (Oiiuiittee aplointed
by the Chamber ut Commerce,
it which were present Messrs. IJrawley,
A'illiams, Magrath, DeSaussure and others.
We had a full and litre discussion.
\nu l may say right here, that tin? idea
mtertained by some that Charleston
roil hi regard this whole thing as a frolc,
and an occasion for banquets and exntrsions
around the harbor, was not true,
l'lie committee appointed to meet us regarded
it as a business transaction and
net us in that spii it. Coventor Unyood
tnd the Directors had a tree conference
with the committee of tin* Chamber of
Joiiuuerce and informed that committee
jf the action of tlie municipalities alon^
the line froml'ick? lis to Aiken. The
:ommitlce said they were prepared to
jjive careful consideration to the plan
proposed. We inform >d them of the
plan of the dilu n nt towns on tin* line in
the up country to raise 5 per cent, of the
valu<* of the taxable property of the
several municipalities, il L'liarl-'ston
would cover tin- amount by an equal
sum. They said that because of the I not
that Charleston was laboring now tinder
a debt ol !j?4,(XH>,(H.iO incurred by sub
ni.i ijiLiutm iu laiiliMim III lllr past. :lIk?I
because ill-- I;t\v prohibited th" oily in
its corporate capacity from increasing its
debt. tney could not operate on that line
but would make us another proposition.
II' we con hi secure it as u bonded aebt
on the road, they thought thoy could
raise $")!)(),'KXJ to ->uild the road. The
board of Dircptora and Mr. Schufield,
the tinaticial agent of the company, regarding
this in the line of what they
had intended and what they had been 1
endeavoring to'do in the past, thought
the proposition a good one, and b.-t?m* I
than tho oue.Wi had proposed, and that
it ought to be agreed upon. The amount
raised to bo secured by lir^t mortgage
boiifls on the road. ' f T
of all ihu represet|,u i,ne
ol the road wai hfj0' ;jle Charleston
Hotel. 1 he meeting . t and enthusias-ic,
and .VproHoiitative eapaeitvviiy
meeting A ' havo .evep-'aoen.
i'iiis meeting -adjourned at half-past
twelve o'clock.' Three questions were
submitted. First, Whether the towns
would agree to th<; subscriptou of 5 per
:ent. It was decided that they would.
St-cend, Whether tin: amount thus raiswl
1*\* lie c^iAnlil lw? < "" ?
V* wj ? ? ? ?J ?w*?m >J\. IIIIWII \JIIVJ~lltl 1 1 111
stock anil one-halt' in income bunds, the
. aluc of which depended on the business
)f the road, and interest on which was
o be paid, it' warranted by the business
)f the road, after the first mortgage
joiuls. Third, Whether the subscription
should be without condition, or on
he condition that they were to be nejrojuled
only when the road reached the
espective towns. There was a ditl'cr;nce
of opinion, and I may say that the
proposition was made by .\Ir, Seholield
limself, who said that he thought it but
right that we slum. 1 not be ex;>ef.'.| to
ive soiiiv tiling tin noihiii,^. 'i'h.it we
should alter voting our tax 01? iiouds
lold the same till the rond reached our
jur towns. All three of the.' propositions
were adopted.
Ursolrtd, That this company \i.\vs with
ireat interest and t'ayoi the line of mlrnud
Tom Aiken, in the dure.ion of tin- in.mil'.tins,
irojectcd hr the Carolina, Cumberland o.ip
t ut Chicago Kuil.'oad ('..mi>.inv, utul will
sanction imy effort in aid of such entcrnri.-u*,
vhich in the judgment of tlie hoard of di
vvi.i UHI^ UW jMiijKi J liiiii I *IU UillLHTd Ol
he company are hereby directed ti> transport
ill rails and other material needed in i-iiu>t
met ion of said road and to lend Mich other
lid in fiirnishiu;; of 1111i}>nie111 for the operation
of the same as may be required, upon
he most liberal terms.
Jien>htd, further, That a jnnet:on of the
Carolina, Cumberland tiap and Chicago Kail oad
with the Snvamyili Valley Itailroad is,
n the opinion of this meeting, ail ohjeet
jreutly to be desired iu the interest of all
soneerned. *
Next tlay at one o'clock occurred the
lieeting at the Chamber of Commerce.
It was a largo mooting,-and I think I may
say, i in pressed all the delegates with the
eelin,; that those present were inteiyst;d.
The gentlemen of the committee
Tom Charleston assured the meeting
hat they would endeavor to raise the
unount of $5(X),t)00 as agreed upon.
1 am aware that many say what depute
thing was done ? When will the
oad he huilt ? 1 can't say when the
noney will ho raised, or if any money
will ho raised iu the next few days. It
s no small sum, especially to n commercial
community whose money isrengag}d
in the legitimate ways of trade. The
inly assurance I had was a statement
by Governor llagood that we wjtihl
probably know definitely within six
iveeks. I don't know iT this was his
awn idea or if he had been told so by
f?lh7?mo
At ;i meeting of (he Directors of (he
South Carolina iinilrou<l the following
resolutions were a<l%>|>(c?l ;
/'rm/rtd, That this meeting litis luard with
Ki'fu? interests tin* statements made l?y the
parties interested in flic Carol inn. Cumberlaud
(Jap iiml Chicago Itailroad Compativ, mill
is continued in tlie opinion horetofore expressed
that it is .a mutter of great importance to
Lhe citv of Charleston Hint said railroad shall
be built ; that it recommends to their fellow*
sitixvns sueli contribution in aid of tli.it enterprise
as will assist in the building of said
railroad; that the committee heretofore appointed
be requosted to report to a meeting to
be called hereafter by the chairman such plan
for? giving substantial aid to that railroad
eomnnny as they may in their judgment deem
most likely to accomplish the object desired ;
that aaid committee beauthorized to confor
with the officers of the Savannah Valley
C& ,** - *> ;V t . ? , JT -. ?
ailrond Company with tho view of securing >ra
junction nt' said railroad with the Carolina, th
umberbind Cap and Chicago Haitroad at to
ucli |?>int on the Augusta and Knoxville te
uilroad as may be most convenient.
Anil at the meeting of the Chamber
f Commerce, ht which were ineinbe (J
f th<> Stork F.xchange, of tlio Grocer's ni
Cxehan^e, ami tin- Hoard of Trade, and ti
ml of the principal linns and houses, t)
h?' followins resolutions were adopted. ||
When we consider that for four years (j
re have t-ied to obtain the recognition i,
>f '.Im' South Carolina Sail road and fail- n
it seems to me these resolutions are tl
cry encouraging, and did indicate an in- a
crest in the road. They had made ar- t
aiigcments villi tlovernor llagood to lay (l
dl materials d"\vn upon liberal terms. 1,
I do not know what they were, but they . };
ivere very liberal. j
This resolution provides for a subso- f
juent meeting in t"hai'leston to be called l
I?y the chairman. Have seen no call for t'
I lie meeting. I do think from the spirit |
>f these meetings the delegates left t
Charleston with feelings of encourage- j
inent. i
At a subsequent meeting at which
some of th bank presidents attended. I 1
was not present. From what (iovernor ?.
llagood told me it appears that there y
was still more interest shown and that *
assurances were given that the amount }
agreed upon could be raised upon prop- >
er security. I
1 would be ?;lad to hear from any mem- (
hers of th" delegation who may desire to |
add anything to what I have said <
Mr.ti. T. Calhoun moved that the re- <
port he received as information. There I
being no ohjection.it was so ordered. (
.1 udge Cothran, being called for saiil : '
I have listened with much interest to
the report of tin* delegates to Charleston.
Since I saW yon hist I have h-id no !
knowledge of whpt was jroii:on in tlie ;
railroad world. 1 am sorry to hear that 1
since the meeting of the ">lst of January
there has arisen some dissension among
you. We are such a small community
and wo are ill so poor that without united
action we can accomplish nothing.
I understand there i-; a strong fueling j
for the connection with what is known
as the Central Sy.Mem. a:;d an abandonment
of the Cumberland Cap. I ihiu't
think there is any ground for dissension.
Those schemes are not incompatible. 1
for one. would take both. 1 am not in
business here. My salary does not depend
on the piosperity of Abbeville, but
1 am willing for mv property to be taxed
and go into any scheme that will give
us relief. If for we can t immediate
relief !>y the road to Vcrderv,
ctill ......i-;i.>>t.. i., <i... !.r
the great trunk Sine, the Cumberland
(lap, it may he well to adopt hotli plans.
But I bej; to say now a word that may he
profitable. t'case dissension. Don't
condemn the Cumberland (Sap road, for
there is room for both. I am sorry to
see those so zealous for the route to
Verdery hostile to the Carolina. Cumberland
(Jap and Chicago. The best
course for both is to have no hostility.
Do all you can f rthej Carolina, Cumberland
(Sap and Chicago and make terms
with the other. Seo if they will iron,
equip and run it, if we will gra le it. I
tell you again, if the opposition takes
fonu .uni it goes out to the world, Abbeville,
which originated the scheme of the
5 per cci.i. subscription, will b<> put in
the attitud" of having repudiated it.
There is strong fear lest Charleston de?,.tu
i. iv.i
bVhiiiMM IU Ituiiv ?*!% 111*.- ?"??! > ?111 ll?\ II \ ill"
ley llaihoad. But 1 have no such fear.
Governor llngood. who is as true a man
as ever li.ved, wil' use every endeavor to
rt?J<Aqmv uUibeviUo
on Uie line of the Carolina; Cumberland
(Jap and Chicago. Let ns not give it up. |
Let-there he no root of bitterness. no an- :
to-??irisin. 1 wish we had a half dozen |
roads?yea twenty more than Atlanta!
I am in favor of contributing what 1 can
to both.
Mr. \Y. C. lionet said :
I should like to sp ?nk my approval of
the line of remarks of Judge Cothran,
and to submit two or three resolutions'!
agree with him that it will be fatal to
the interests of Abbeville if the friends
of the C., C. (i. & and the (Jeorgia
Central connection continue their antagonism,
I have done my utmost to
discover why there should be any antagonism
; I am not for the Cumberland
(Jap and 1 am not for Verdery. or rather
I am for bo'.h, and the Uoad to Klhcrton;
indeed I see no objection to a road from
anywhere. The Cumberland (Jap llond
if built will give us relief from the outside
; if built to the mountains will give
us that great disideratum. a western connection
; It will doubtless be n long
time. Hut from the South Carolina It.
It., connection we will sret benotiiw Mint
must lit? patent to all : At the same
time I am heartily in favor of anything
that -riven us immediate relief; the connection
with the (!eorgi:?. Central may
do us more good now. We are nil
agreed upon the advantages of rail roads
and are interested in both schemes ; on
the 31st January we held a meeting that
sent an impulse froin Knsley to Charleston
; we made the proposition to raise 5
percent, of taxable value of our property
if Charleston would do likewise; they
said no; we make you a better offer;
raise your money, keep it at home; we
don't want a cent of it till the Koad
reaches Abbeville ; wo will tnku your
bonds and build the Koad. As men ot
Abbeville we cannot repudiate our ac- '
lion ; still we have the possibility of a
connection with the Central System ami
must not let it slip ; let us carry.out the
terms of our proposition to Charleston,
nml at the same time raise hy tax or
otherwise the subscription for the con- 1
miction with the Georgia Central System,
if the authorities of that system
will equip ami iron the road ; I hear j
there is nothurg^iijlinite known of their
intentions ; hut It^ffi.kjiJjidge Lyon told
me some mouths ago that Mr. Verderv '
said Mr. Kaoull preferred the road from
Abbeville to Acrdory. Let us pass 1
those resolutions that we will grade the
Road if the Georgia Central will equip
and iron it, and appoint a committee of
three or five to confer with Kaoull. All '
this agitation is in tliu interest of Abbe- 1
villo, and will result in giving us a '
road; both are better than one; one is
better than none ; we ought to hold on 1
to both projects. 1 submit the follow- '
iug resolutions :
Jiffohtd, That the property-ownora of the
town of Abbeville slinll, by tax or otherwise, ! '
rni.su a stun of money equal to 5 per cent, of j
tint assessed vuhtc of the real and personal i ,
property in the town of Abbeville, in aid of i
the Carolina, Cumberland (Jap and Chicago |
Knilrond Companv, 011 condition that tbe |1
amount ho raised shall not be turned over to > 1
the said railroad company until the said rail- |
roid shall hnvo been built from some point on ,
tlio South Carolina Railroad to Abbcvillu: j '
and |
limolted, That the nroperty-owners of the
town of Abbeville shall, br tax or otherwise,;
raise a sum of money sufticiunt to grade ai|
railroad from Abbevillo t<i some noint on the I ,
Augusta and Knoxvillo Railroaa, hereafter j
to be selected, on condition that the directors j1
of the Georgia Central System of Railroad 1
shall guarantee to iron, equip and run the 1
same as part of their system : and
Ruollti, That a committee of three be appointed
at this meeting, to be sent as a dele- 1
,tion from Abbeville, to consult with the auorities
of the Georgia Central System, and
report the result at a meeting to be liereafr
culled. V
Col. O.T. Calhoun said: ?
1 have always been in favor of the v
umberland Cap Koad through the t
lountains, hut in this matter wo ought s
> go slow ; don't let us leap in l he dark : '
iese resolutions say go ahead and tax (
le town 5 per cent, for tin* C. (i. ?.V 1
. lload, and raise an amount sullieieni *
> grade the the other route ; there i> '
o law yet chartorilig the other road ; I
link 1 undcrslantl the reason of this 1
ntagonism between the friends of tin*
wo r??ad:;; the people think if we tax
urse-ves i?25.t><X) to hnild the Cuinher- ,
\nd Cap, we will not then tax ourselves ,
H >.< K X) for the Verdery I load ; they |
lon't believe, if we go ahead with the <
ortner even if Chat leston obtained her J
:r.t;(),(KK) that we would tax ourselves
or tin: other route. I differ with Mr. ,
tenet as to t h ?? advantage of Charles- J
oil's offer. II Charleston had met our j
iropositiou we would have gone to the j
uonutaius ; she doesn't propose to sul>terihe
a cent : hut simply to lake our
jomls for which we tax ourselves ; she
lays we will raise ^r>(X).(KM) to take up
four bonds. I low would the road to
\iken benefit A bbeville ? What is (In;
v l\ It. I!, aide to ilo V All she promi;cs
is lo haul the material to build the
Itoad, a( reduced rates; this was not
jur desire ; this was not meeting our
proposition ; we shouldn't fool away
5iir time while Charleston dillv dallies;
iv e want present relief; It is objected to
the Veidery route that we have nothing
lelinite from the (ieorgia Central Itoad
is to what it will do if we grade tin?
I load : what more definite have we from
Charleston ? It is proposed to appoint
x committee to wait niton Haul : let one
ulso lit? appointed tn wait upon Charleston
and ascertain her intentions; if
I'aoul is to 1 pinned down, let CharlesIon
also In; pinned down.
Colonel .J.T. Hobertson said :
I am of opinion that then; is not so
much of disscntion >.n I had feeling
unonj; us, as some would make believe :
I am satisfied that we are all agreed that
we need a rail road : tin.* only thin;; for
us to determine i<. which is most advantageous
to the town; i thought, this
meetinj; \\ as called, in tin; inlores' of the
Cumberland (Jap iloa.l : it wis called
by Chairman ??I the atijmit i;e:l meeting,
to receive the rep...it ??i the ??? ? ^i'-s to
Charleston, it seems to me thai :> al' .v<
should do ; it is best for us to ! i ;iii::.-.s
alone, not to agitate this line ?.?r that;
everything; i> progressing v< ry '.veil ; let
us wait and see it t'harluslon will raise
t5(X),<K!(); let us stand "by the resolutions
of .51st >1 .'Miliary, till Cliai leston
fails ; I Jim therefore opposed to the
resolutions : i have always Iteen si Ver- i
dory man, I am a Cumberland (Sap man: j
let us carry out our proposition in good
'"aitli and not treat with any other road
till wc see what Charleston does ; c n the
other hand if we vote $25,000 to the
other road, why, Mr. liaoull may well
say I won't iron your road to Vertlery, I
wiil have nothing to do it. I wash my
hands of von; therefore 1 say, let us
wait and see.
Mr. \V. A. Lee said :
I camo into this meeting with utnlecitied
views; I ant a friend to all tv.il road
enterprises; I thought those were proper
resolutions endorsed by the meeting1
of the 211st of Jatiuat v; we then appointed
delegates who have made their
report; Charleston is not prepared to
say definitely if t>he cult raise the money
wo hoeil ; wo must await tho actionof
Charleston ; two.'joiidS are ^jroposo^^o
us. tho first is tho great liiglnx^-y^<'i>m
th<? seaboard across tho mountains to
tho West, tho second "s tho road to Verd
-ry , wo agreed to .<00 what could bo
ihmo with tho former%ar.d made an oiler
to Charleston to raiso a certain sum upo!)
condition that she raiso n like sum;
Charleston has done hotter than that ;
she has agreed to grade tho Itoad to our
vorv doors upon liberal conditions ;
then . us go on with our proposition ;
there .N..ould he no fooling in this mattor
: if 1 had tho gift of tongues and
words that some are blessed with, I
could speak all night on this subject; wo
arc all Abbeville men. not Cumberland
(Jap men, or Verdory men, but all interested
in tho welfare and prosperity of
Abbeville.
Mr. I . (i. Gray don said :
I have not come into this meeting as
tho advocate or antagonist of any
special line; let us consider in tho first
place what we are committed to and are
bound to carry out : on the 151st of .January
we adopted resolutions in favor of
the Cumberland Gap lload, and sent dolesat'-s
to Charleston, and this meeting
has hoard their report : wo are here to
adopt some course, and decide upon
what is best for Abbeville to do ; we
want ridiof. immediate relief it is said ;
wliv our onlv hope of immediate relief
it... n 1 1 1 n--. ?1
. < .7 ..I HIV WUIUIIIUI VUllllM llillIU \ r?||j a 11(1
Chicago Road ; wo have 110 authority to
huihl any other now, 110 charter for any
other road ; we could not condemn a
foot of land for right of wnv, and have
no right to pledge the town to anything
l>ut the Carolina, Cumberland Cup and
Chicago Itailroad ; it is objected that
Charleston is illiberal in not putting up
money; that is tho experience of all roads,
capitalists are not noted for their liberulity
; every road in the State has been
built by the people grading it and the
irap'talists taking up the bonds ; it seems
lo 1110 Charleston is liberal ; she olVers
to take #500 000 of tho bonds anil allow
us to lock up our bonds till the road is
nfour very doors; the fear is expressed
that the road will never go on to the
mountains; if it is built to Abbeville,
Lhere can bo no doubt of its going 011 ;
the people above here would carry it on ;
ind the road itself would lie in a condition
to continue its course ; it would
l>c worse than folly to choke down this
enterprise.
Capt. Ii. \V. AVliite said :
Your report Mr. Chuirmnn, is so full
that it is not necessary that 1 should
itdd anything to it as a meuiher of the
i-oiiiniiltee that went to Charleston.
If we repudiate the iction of the
meeting of the 31st of lanuary, we put
the committee and this community in a
very had light with the oflieers of the
l.'oad and the public; we uuamimously
ngreed to tax ourselves 5 per cent.; to repudiate
this action might cause the same
i-ll'ect all along the line; so favorably
was the meeting impressed with this
course on tlx? part of Abhaville, that
i?t the subsequent informal meeting Gov.
Uajrood singled out Abbeville as the
place for the voting of the tax to begin ;
I aiu ready to go into any rail road enterprise
that will enable us to keep Abbeville
as a centre of trade and develop
the growth of the town ; we can't afford
to divide ; we can't keep up two schemes
tit the same time; if the $500,000 is
secured by Charlestsn, Gov.- Hagood
said he would commence work at once
with a large force of hands, and finish
Lhe llond to Abbeville.
Mr. W. P. Calhoun said ;
I would like to know what wc arc <o
rait for; wc have no assurance but tl
onvorsations of private individuals;
iro agreed to vole 5 per cent, if Charleson
would duplicate the amount; she
aid she would not do it; don't that reicve
the committee and relievo us from
Charleston V ih.it puts an end to the
natter; : ? m ;!io Verdery resolution,
vouhl Mr. "'.null iron and c<|iiip tliu
ii>;id iiit-T we had voted $'.25,tHK) to
mother l!< ad : there can he no comic*:-*
ion between these ronils.
(Sen. 1!. I?. Hemphill said :
Whit have we that is definite to
>vork upon ; 1 find in the report some
igreement based upon the supposition
hat Charleston will give 2fr>()0,(XX);
here is no such promise; Mr. Schn
tiled suggested it tin: night before the
meeting [the Chairman, no?the sug
restiou came from the committee to
raise :] <ien. Hemphill?well
it is not embodied in the resolution; it
is nothing more than talk; it is a serious
matter to enter into ^2:">,(KX) of bonds;
ns 1 understand it, we are waiting for
Charleston?she is waiting on u-s. Let
us not enter into any grievous legal obli
ga'.ions on sueli promises ; the Road will
never succeed under its present management:
they have had it four years;
Schotield three; with New York .>-o
near, why go to Kurope to raise money ?
We 1i:ivi> ln??i?l ' *
business limn in ('hica:ro: Mr. <!. \V
Williams oilers to take $11),OM) in bonds;
why did'nt ho subscribe il : that wont
justify us in voting a tax on ours* Ives;
it is saiil the bonds are not to be given
out till the ISoail reaches Abbeville ; tlx;
bonds must In-issued in accordance with
the Act authorizing them, and no such
condition is contained in the Act; tie'.
Hemphill read from the Act of ineu poration.
Why not tax tin; people $">,()< X) or
.fUMXK) and be over with it ; as for stop*
ping at Abbeville, I have a copy of the
/'ic/rcns Sentinel, and Mr. Hradhy
seems to understand the lload was to ?'<i
on to l'i. K.-ns \ 'sipt. White inteirupteil
to say that Mr. Schoiield hail math? two
suiigstions, lirst, (or >,tKH?, second,
for .$l,tHK),tXH) to tako the Itoad on to
th<' mountains.]
Mr. Parker explained that firs',
would bring the road to Abb<vilie.
or if j? 1,<M> was subscribed,
that would tako the road to J'icketis, and
give basis fur a bonded debt to carry ?ho
road on through thi; mountains,
( it. Ib-niphill continued :
Wo cc.uhl Imild a road from ( r?*?*nwood
to Klbi'i ton and on to Atlanta. Tor
less: if Mr. Scliofiehl wants to inducc
the people of Abbeville to v*?t? nmm-v
J let liiin show to us tin.- contract ho has,
I lot us sot- if ii is not \ioiatcd. and ii' it
I is, lot hiin return tlio line to Troy ; Alhovillo
can build that herself; 1 inn
opposed to precipitancy ; I am not opposed
to the lino, hut hefonj you saddle
a tax on those people, 1 want to know
if Kchoiiehi's contract has been fiiHilh'i1,
Mr. Ii. \V. Smith said :
1 am tirod of hearing tho fault finding
and complaints of (ion. Hemphill; he
does nothing hut object ; if ho can suggest
any better plan, why drift h?r .!o it ?
L t hint suggest something .o do instead
of criticising llagood and SclioficM ;
the honds arc not to ho juit on the inark"t
till the whistle is heard in out 1 in:- #
its : wo run no risk, voting the tax costs
nothing.
Mr Ij. W. lVrrin said :
We want a road hiully ; hr.t we nro
like beggars. we ennt choose for ourwe
are dependent on soinetmtlv
vro go about making propositioi 3
to oVcjVi>o'ly ; wo shall fail in all ; wo
have tnadS&UjL- ftjm,ftStUrr7"\>1k' Iims "
raised it, and initio it more beneficial .
who is to take up the bonds to build our
road is a matter of indiUVrcnoo to 11s ;
the report is that Charleston has this
matter under advisement ; she can't
move in a few days ; what (leu. Hemphill
says about saddling the community
with 5,1 HK.), on promise of George W.,
Williams, is not a fact.; the bonds arc
only to be used when the road readies
here ; it is in conformity with the Act
of the Legislature.
Have we any assurance from Mr.
Ihionll ; 1 have heard that Mr. Kaoull
prefers some other lout than to (.?rcctiwood.
Lot us exhaust one effort before wo
try another.
As each mile of the road is completed;
it furnishes iho money for the next and
so on. to completion ; w? have nothing
to do but wait ; wait on liaouil ami wait
on Charleston ; it seems to mo that the
dictate of wisdom is to make haste
slowly.
Mr. \V. I'. Calhoun said :
We ought not to wait ; but as all
seems to th-pond on Charleston, 1 suppose
we must wait ; I move to table
the resolutions, and wait on Charleston
to the end of time.
Mr. W. C. lionet said :
I thought the rosolulintiK host ; tliey
were drawn up in the interest of Abbeville
; in asking leave to withdraw tho
resolutions, let ine say we must wait,
hut not too long ; we must meet n^iiin,
and we ought to move together.
.) udge Lyon said :
I nm very much impressed with tho
sentiment of this meeting ; I expected
nothing hut kindly speech ; I nm glad
of the postponement; perhaps Mr.
Rnon'.l, the Napoleon of rail roads, as
Gov. liouham calls him. will move iu
such a way as to change our views ;wo
are obliged to wait on Charleston ;
perhaps Mr. Raoull's plans may liave
changed when Abbeville gets reaily to
move.
Mr. Cirnydon moved that when the
meeting adjourn, it ho subject to tho call
of the Chairman.
On motion the meeting adjourned.
Kx-.frnuK T. J. Mackkt hhsfhrfvic
employed to lit* fen (I llnzoiK jArVrois to bo
court-murtaletl for jjp^ifTsing a superior
officer.
XX. XX. Xs.
HILL'S IIK PA TIC I'AN'ACKA.
The Best Liver Medicine For
TI-IE C URE OIF
DISPEPSIA. HEADACHE,
ZBIXjIOTTSIISr ESS,
AND MALARIA.
AruruTA, (Jn., April 3, 1884.
Mr. W. H. Barrett, Dour Sir?After using
imp.. ii?..ni;,. r? >? i
J W.I. ! n tiwnviv * HIIHWCI UM vnr*? JCUrn in
tho Augusta Orphan A*vlum, I cheerfully
recommend it as one of the best medicines I
have ever u*od for indigestion, headtohuo.
and all dineaaort arising from disordered
liver. It haa been of great benefit to the
children, always affording prompt relief.
A. E. MOKIHNB,
Matron Augusta Orphan Asvlum.
March 18-tf
H