Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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-+J. C. JEFFERIKS,*- OAI-TNEV, S. C. Attorney and Counsellor at Law. Practice! All the Courts. Collections a Specialty The Ledger # Ledger Readers Patronize Ledger Advertisers. A Newspaper in all that the Word Implies and Devoted to the Best Interests of the People of Cherokee County. VOL. IV. NO. 50. GAFFNEY CITY, S. C., THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 1898. $1.00 A YEAR. COTTON ACREAGE FOR 1898. LATHAM. ALEXANDER & CO., ON THE SUBJECT. They Talk “Horse Seose” to the Farm ers of the South Which the Latter Would do Well to Profit by. made in the crop worth k8 Lathem, Alexander & Co., of New York, furnish a most logical letter on the cotton situation, of which the following is the full text: It seems to us that the most vitally important lesson for the South to learn is that over production of cot ton is seriously harmful to the mate rial prosperity of that section. We have repeatedly written on this subject and feel that we have ex hausted the argument; nevertheless, with the result of the current crop, we are constrained to write again, even at thfl risk of reiterating what we have said before. Whatever share the merchants and planters of the South arc to have in the revival of business and general prosperity of the country, now ap parently well started, will depend upon the profit that is production of cotton, a $300,000,000. The Total crop of lS9o*9G was 7,157.340 bales, and it was sold at the average price of 8.00 cents per pound, or $10.82 per bale, according to the record of ex ports and the oilioial figures of the ureuu of Statistics at Washington, ao planters that year made large d crops, and when the planting ason the next year began, they ere fortified with every requisite to reduce cotton cheaply. Last year the total crop was ,757,904 bales, and the average price was 7.42 cents per pound, or $37.40 per bale, the crop yielding, perhaps, a larger net profit than for many ^•ears, because planters had few sup plies to buy. The success resulting from the conservative policy which was pur sued these two years did not induce planters to adhere to that line of ac tion; on the contrary, they increased their purchases of fertilizers this year, and many of them drifted back almost to the all-cotton principle, and planted the largest cotton acre age ever known,hoping that the world would pay remunerative prices for the staple, no matter how large the supply. The disastrous result of over-plant ing this year is already clearly shown by comparison with last year, when the acreage devoted to cotton was decidedly less. Last year the amount of cotton marketed to January 1st was 6,398,192 bales, the average price realized was 7.53 cent per pouud, $37.97 per bale, or $242,939,350. This year 7,200,033 bales were marketed to January 1st. the average price realized was 0.05 cents per pound, $30.49 per bale, or $221,358,- 406. The planters shipped to market 861.841 bales of cotton more by Jan uary 1st this year than last, and re ceived for them $21,580,944 less money. In other words, owing to the lower price, induced by over production, the people of the South have lost on cotton shipped to market by January 1st this year, the total value of 801,841 bales, namely, $32,724,102, and $21,580,944 besides, making a grand total loss of $54,305,- 046. To further illustrate the ruinous effect of overplanting, we make the following summary of crops and prices: Av’r'j? Price. 7.09 5.7B 8.09 7.12 It will be seen that in 1893-94 a crop of 7,549,617 bales sold for $4,- 014,395 more than the large crop of 9.901.251 bales the next year; in 1895-90 a crop of only 7,157,346 bales brought $3,315,933 more thau the 9,- 901.251 crop, and that the crop of 8,787.954 bales last year brought $38,029,850 more than was received for 9,901,251 bales marketed in 1894-95. Such incontestable facts show what enormous losses the South has sustained by over-production, and are sufficient to cause a radical change in planting operations. It is conceded on every hand that the price thus far received for this year’s crop has yielded no profit to the planter, and even though more than two-thirds of the crop have been sold to this date, prices are even yet below the cost of production. On account of the large crop and low prices resulting therefrom, it is of viti^l importance, not only to the Soutfi, hut the whole country, that Crop. Bales. 1*93-94 7,549.817 1894- 95 9,! 11.251 1895- 9(5 7,157.346 1896- 97 8.757,9(54 Proceeds. 1292,9:52,899 288.918.504 292,2.54,437 327,547,854 bales of cotton to foreign spin- tho cotton acreage for next year lie materially< reduced, in Jorder to ad vance the price of t he greatest staple product of the I'nited States to a paying basis. If the planters of the South suffer 1()8S, the people of the whole country must share in it. The South cannot stand another cotton crop of same dimensions as this year's, without bringing about disaster and bankruptcy to planters and handlers of cotton, and relative harm to the general mercantile inter est of that section. The price of cotton is more readily influenced by the inexorable law of supply and demand than any other article of commerce, for no commod ity is so sensitive to fluctuations, and when a superabundance is hanging over the market, cotton trade in all its branches is adversely affected. Cotton raising in this country is virtually a monopoly—two-thirds of the entire production each year Is readily taken by buyers in foreign countries, and the planters in the South are justly entitled to a fair re muneration for their labor. An over-supply is the only reason why they have to sell 6,000,0(>0 to 7,000,- 000 tiers, without profit. The cotton crop can and should be made the most profitable in this country. It is wholly the planter’s fault that such is not the case, as the figures in this letter clearly show. The cotton interest of every kind, everywhere, would prefer an advanc ing market to a declining one, good prices to poor ones, because trade in all of its ramifications is quickened thereby. Even the consumers of cotton goods are so slightly affected by an advance of even two or three cents per pound in the raw material that they are not unwilling that the planter be well paid for his labor. IJut, if the planting interests of the South continue to increase cotton acreage year after year, continual loss is inevitable. The mere fact that a large crop has been planted affects the price adversely at once, and continues to affect it until the crop has been marketed, and if the planters of the South would determine to largely re duce the acreage, a favorable influ ence upon prices and the cotton trade of the world would at once become apparent. ily the systematic and co-operative action between the merchants and planters the cotton crop must be kept within reasonable trade demands or else destroy the most valuable source of profit to the mercantile and agricultural interest of the South. For the good of all concerned, it would be infinitely better any year to make a million bales less cotton than half u million bales more than neces sary. The material welfare of the South is more dependent upon her cotton crop than upon all other sources of income combined, and it is entirely with the planters and cotton com mission merchants to determine whether the value of this crop shall from year to year be a source of an nually increasing profit or a source of disappointment and loss. Will Take The Ledger for Life. (Correspondence of The Ledger.) Pactolus, Benton County. Ark., Jan. 13.—This beautiful morning seventy years ago, I was born in Spartanburg district, on the old AlcCraw farm. This is my birthday, dear Brother DeCamp, and I will send you $2.00 as a birthday present for past favors, ever hoping you will send me The Ledger as long as you and I live, and if you never get pay for it you will have the pleasure of saying that you gave one old minister your paper who was battling for the cause of God in Arkansas. This leaves us all well and doing well. We had one of the coldest spells the last of December I ever saw at that time of the year. The earth was covered in sleet for three weeks. The first day of January, 1898, was a fine day, and it has been getting warmer ever since, until the 11th of this month, we experienced a hail storm and a general tear up all over the country. The 12th day was very unpleasant. I was called on to go ten miles to preacb a funeral of one of our old sisters in the church, who was eighty-six years old, J. M. M. There is no use in asking God to bless o.her people unless you are willing to bear some of the expense. Robbed the Grave. A startling incident of which Mr. John Oliver of Philadelphia, was the subject, is narrated by him as follows : “I was in a most dreadful condition. My skin was almost yellow, eyes sunken, tongue coated, pain continu ally in back and sides, no apnetite— gradually growing weaker day by day. Three physicians had given me up. Fortunately, a friend advised trying ‘'Electric Bitters,” and to my great joy and surprise, the first bottle made a decided improvement. I continued their use for three weeks, and am now a well man. I know they saved my life, and robbed tne grave of an- ! other victim.” No one should fail to ' try them. Only 50 cents per bottle at DuPre Drug Company. WRITTEN FROM WILLIE. “Little Bill” Endorses the Views of the Manager. (Correspondence of The Ledger.) Willie, S. C. Jan. 18th.—“Too much relative stress has been laid upon the duties of children to parents, while too little attention lias been given to the duties of parents to their children; this, for the reason that books upon duty have been written by parents and the children’s side of the question has been quite ignored.” Now, while it can hardly be said that parents are under any obligation to their children, there are some du ties that they are under obligation, morally, at least, to perform towards them, among which is the looking after their literary education, of which I propose to speak. I con gratulate the manager of The Ledger upon the stand that lie has taken in regard to the education of the masses and, while I differ very much with Capt. Griffith in his editorial last week upon the subject and especially his concluding remarks, I am not simpleton enough to undertake to argue the question with him. I am getting sick and tired of hav ing it thrown in the poor man's face that the “owners of property are educating his children.” There is no sense at all in the cry of the rich educating the poor, the fact is, it is j ust the contrary. There is no person of common sense but what knows that the laborer is the producer, and that the producer is the one who foots the bill no matter in what shape it is presented. The laboring man, under the in dustrial system of this country, and perhaps all other countries, don’t stop at paying all taxes, but he ac tually credits a great deal of the values upon which the taxes are col lected, and besides paying the tax for those who own property, in rents and profits on his labor, he pays a large per cent of the school tax di rect, as a per capita tax, commonly known as the •‘poll tax.” And, even if the poor was actually being educated at the expense of some one else, it is most assuredly the duty of our government, under our suffrage qualifications, to furnish tho means whereby every one of its citizens may obtain an education. Every parent should use every means possible to secure for his chil dren an education, and, to my mind, the free school system is the only just and. in fact, the only way possi ble in which the masses of this coun try can obtain an education. Mr. G. M. Steele died yesterday of heart failure and was buried this evening at Mt. Lebanon cemetery, the funeral services were conducted by the Rev. J. E. MeMinor, of Greer’s. Mrs. Steele was about sixty years old, and leaves a husband and sev eral grown children to mtmrn her death. Mrs. Charles Nodine and Miss Mat- tie Williams was married the 9th inst., at the residence of the bride’s father, Mr. F. M. Williams. The child of Mr. James Vardin’s that got burned and which we report ed lust week, died the 11th inst., and was buried at Liberty church the 12th. About the best way to repeal the lien law is to repeal the homestead law, and then the lien law will repeal itself, but, as long as the homestead law stands, the lien law will be in dispensable. The masses of the far mers can’t do without it, or some thing to take its place. Little Bill. Died of His Injuries. A negro man named Greer, who was shot some month’s ago by anoth er negro named Miller, died here last Friday. The shooting was done in Cherokee Township No. 1. Coroner McCraw held an inquest. He re quested Dr. J. Roddy Miller to make a post mortem examination of the body. Dr. Miller testified that death was caused by the wound and a loath some disease combined. Tho verdict of the jury was in accordance with Dr. Miller’s testimony. AN OLD DOCTOR’S FAVORITE. Dr. L. M. Gillam, who practiced medicine over forty years, originated, used and claimed that Botanic Blood Balm, (B. B. B. ) which has now been in use about fifty-five years, was the best Tonic and Blood Purifier ever given to the world. It never fails to cure the most malignant ulcers, sores, rheumatism, catarrh, and all skin and blood diseases. Beware of sub stitutes. Use this standard remedy, Price per large bottle $1.00. AFTER SEVERAL DOCTORS FAILED. 1 have been afflicted with Catarrh for many years, although all sorts of medicines and several doctors did their best to cure me. My blood was very impure, and nothing ever hud any effect upon the disease until I used that great Blood Remedy known as Botanic Blood Balm, (B. B. B. ), afew bottals of which effected an “entire cure. I recommend it to all who have Catarrh. I refer to any merchant or banker of Athens, Ga.. and will reply to any inquiries. R. R. Saulter. For sale by Druggists. ETCHINGS FROM ETTA JANE BV THE “SAGE” OF LOWER CHEROKEE. Something of the History of the Forces of the Late Confederacy—The Value of a Good News paper. ^Correspondence or The Ledger.) Etta Jane, Jan. 24.—Rev. Mr. Isom preached at Messopotamia yesterday. His text was Prov. 18:22, “Whosoever findeth a wife findeth a good thing.” No doubt his hearers agreed with him. He gave it to the old batche- lors pretty hard. The C. E. Society met at Mr. F. A. Goforth’s last night. A good number were present. On Wednesday of next week, 2nd February, it will cele brate the 3rd anniversary of its or ganization by suitable exercises at Salem church. Miss Nannie Crosby visited her home, at Sharon, last Friday, and re turned yesterday, p. m. Mr. S. F. Estes is quite unwell with cold; your correspondent is in tho same fix, but able to be up. Mr. Joe Estes had a house raising last week. Kelley Lowry, a brick mason of your growing city, did some work in this neighborhood last week. Our readers will remember that when Senator Tillman made his fa mous “pitch fork” speech in the U. S. Senate that Hon. G. B. Fowler, representative from Union county, offered this resolution commending the Senator: “Resolved, That we have heard with interest the patriotic speech of our Senator in the U. S. Senate, Hon. B. R. Tillman, on the 29th in stant, and we desire to say that, by all we are and hope to be, wo will sacrifice our lives if necessary, in re sisting tyranny and oppression, be lieving, as we do, that resistance to tyrants is obedience to God.” The newspapers North, South, East and West, got hold of it and herald ed it from one end of the continent to tha other, and of course, this brought a deluge of letters to the Representative from all quarters of the Union congratulating him upon his instant and patriotic endorse ment of the Senator. Among these letters was one from a lady in Texas, a Mrs. Fowler, who, woman-like, did not stop until she made some enqui ries of the Representative as to the family name and origin, with a view ostensibly of raking up kinship. Neither party knew enough of their antecedents to settle that question, so the Texas lady undertook to give the complexion, size, features, habits, temper and disposition of her family, and at last wound up by saying: “The Fowler’s are all extremists.” “That’s the best description I have heard,” said Mrs. Godfrey Fowler, when she heard iL Sara Lee went to Gaffney last Tues day and bought a bran-new buggy. What’s up Sam? Our people ought to meet on the 5th proximo to organize a Farmers’ Mutual Fire Insurance Company for this county and apply for a charter at once. Auditor W. D. Camp, assisted by Frank McCIuny, made his tour through this section last week taking the returns of the tax payers. Mrs. Millie Durham and children, of Liberty, are visiting the former’s mother, Mrs. C. W. Whisonant, of Wilkinsville. Mrs. Martha E. Small, of Hope- well, gave a party last Tuesday night. It was generally well attended. Lutn Mullinax makes from 65 cts to a dollar a night playing the fiddle for parties. We are told that Bob Davis’ price is $2.50 ’till midnight, and ten cents a reel from that ’till daylight, or as long as the dancers want to keep it up. Bob’s a good one, or used to be. Our Methodist brethren have ceiled Messopotamia church. They did the work themselves. T. J. Estes bought him a mule last week. “Sambo” is nursing a sore thumb this morning. He got it mashed with the well-windlass. It is to bo hoped that every one of our readers made a careful and pray erful study of yesterday’s Sunday School lesson. If they did they are now wiser or better men and women. Miss Ellen Kirby, of Homo, was in this section last week, and her uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Kirby, gave her a singing, >n which the young folks joined to do her honor. Mr. Redemck Morgan, of Henriet ta, N. O., was in this section last Friday, on business. 1 presume that a slight digression for the ordinary duties of a country newspaper correspondent would rot be altogether out of order if he will confine himself to historical facts. The Ledger is an educator, and we propose to use it as such ; and so give our readers the benefit of our re search. In looking into past history I find that the 17th S. C. Regiment, (Col. Means,) lost 66 per cent, of its men at the battle of 2nd Manassas. Among its killed was Col. Means’ Company B., of the 12th Regiment, wont into the same battle with 35 men, and only stacked four guns that night. At the battle of Gaines’ Mill, Va., June 27th, 1862. the 5th S. C. Regiment, Col. Jenkins, lost 42 per cent, of its men in killed, wound ed and missing. Col. “Jack” Giles’ old company, (the Johnson rifles, of Union,) commanded by Captain (now Senator.) J. T. Douglas, went into that battle with 33 men and came out with only three fit for duty. In the same engagement the 12th S. C. Re giment, Col. Barnes, lost 29 per cent, of its men in less than half an hour. The 14th Regiment came out but lit tle. if any better. At Sharpsburg. Sept. 17th, ’62, the Holcombe Legion, Col. 1*. F. Stevens, lost 58 per cent, of its men ready for duty that morn ing. In Longstreet’s assault upon Little Round Top. at Gettysburg, the 15th S. C. Regiment, (Col. Bessamur,) lost 46 per cent, of the men who went into the fight. The first Confederate banner to enter Gettysburg was that of the 4th S. C. Regiment. (Ker shaw’s brigade.) At the battle of Atlanta, Ga.. July 22nd, 1864, William L Reid, a pri vate in one of the Tennessee Regi ments, carried in his breast pocket a Bible which was penetrated by a ball from one of the enemy’s guns. On examining the book after the battle he found that the last verse which bore the impress of the bullet was Psalms 41:2, “The Lord will pre serve and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth; and thou will not deliver him until the will of his enemies.” This incident led to the young man’s conversion, and from that day he lived a Chris tian life, and was on the 30th of No vember following slightly wounded besides General States' Rights’ Gist on the enemy’s breastworks at Frank lin, Tenn. The book is on file in the Confederate National Museum. The young man studied and entered the ministry. He died a few years ago. "God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform.” The small pox, so called, has turn ed out to be some slight cutaneous affliction. Some call it Elephant itch; and it’s no doubt of Asiatic origin. As soon as our people learn to ig nore rather than patronize those Eu ropean shows they will cut off many sources of trouble. Sweet potatoes are generally rot- tening in the bank, and seed will be scarce at bedding time. The township pension board m<»t at Mr. T. M. Littlejohn’s store last Monday. A few new applications were handed in, so I am told. Everybody who likes to read a pa per ought to subscribe for it or make some arrangements with a neighbor to exchange papers with him. It happens sometimes that a neighbor drops in at a post office and picks up a paper and lays it down carelessly, and when the owner comes it can’t be found until a long search is made: and sometimes it is never found un til it is a week or two old. Then the postmaster is charged with careless ness, and it’s right too, that he should be, for permitting unauthorized par ties to handle papers that don’t be long to them. It’s unlawful anyway. These things happen at most of the country offlees now and then, and it's right that a stop be put to it. If one man isn’t able to pay for a paper maybe he can join his neighbor and take it without incurring much ex pense to either. Almost any subscriber likes to keep a file of his papers for reference. But it’s impossible to do this as long as the borrowing process is kept up. If a paper is worth reading it’s worth paying for. In families where only good books and papers are read, the visitor need not while away his time listening to the monotonous charges and sur charges of rabid growlers, but he can listen to the current and leading items of the day. The introduction of substantial, wholesome literature in the home, dispels the gloom that otherwise makes its abode there. Put only good literature into tho bands of the children and home is made happy and contented, providing pater and mater-familiars show their apprecia tion of it to the exclusion of ail other chaffy stuff. We should be as care ful about what our children read as we are about the company they keep. Authors are our associates—our cho sen leaders. A most fitting eulogy of General Lee was made by J. Lindsay Gordon, of Virginia, at Atlanta,on Gen. Lee’s birthday in 1893. His old comrades endorse it heartily. He said ; “We know our southern Arthur shall not come again. We believe his like shail never come again to us until the end of time. But iu our memories forever he shall be the “snow white chief” and his kingdom in the inner sanctuary of our hearts. The walls of the enchanted palace where his body rests are the blue mountains of his native land, its home the skies above. But the roy al and released spirit has passed eter nally from the shadows of defeat un to the place of victory, where, we believe, the knowledge that his peo ple have struggled out of darkness into this radiant day can touch his high soul into greater gladness even amid the supernal splendor of that city where the Lord God and the Lamb are the light thereof.” The omission of a line in my Ms. last week makes Rev. R. L. Dabney, I). D. appear in rather a false light, and does injustice to that distinguish ed soldier and divine. It should have been made to read : “From the chaplaincy of the 18th Virginia Regi ment, at his own request lie was transfered to'the bullet department of the army and afterwards he was General “Stonewall Jackson’s chief of staff.” Our farmers ought to plant largely of sugar cane this year. Molasses at 25 cents per gallon pays better than cotton at 5.35. Some one has discovered that tho twiggs off the weeping willow soaked in whiskey is a sure cure for chills. I want to congratulate Bro. 1. N. Newberry for what he says under the caption, “They remembered him.” Mine has been a similar experience, and I think the man who is either unwilling or unable to pay bis mar riage fee ought never to be allowed to assume tne responsibilities of hus band and father. I remember one fellow in particular, of bronze face and color, who said on such an occa sion, "I'll see you again,” and so he did, for in a few months he was up for wife-beating. That’s about the way the best of them come out. We would like to know the consis tency or justice of a law that punish es crime, when it licenses saloons to make criminals. j. l. s. » —» « Answers from Algood. (Correspondenco of The Ledger.) Algood, Jan.. 25.—Robt. B. Powell has moved his stock of goods to Ferry, N. C., and will try his hand in the mercantile business there. We hope success awaits him at his new stand. Master James Clary has been quite sick for several days. W. B. Price has also been on the sick list. Hugh Wilkins, of Gaffney, visited relatives here Sunday. Ruffian Powell, of Ferry, N. O., visited this section Sunday. L. A. Turner and wife visited J. L. Clary’s Sunday. R. L. Smith visited X. H. Daniels Sunday. Mrs. O. E. Gardner visited Mrs. C. P. Wilkins Sunday. There was a sociable at J. A. Har ris's Friday night. F. M. Gardner went to Cowpens one day last week on business. Mr. Bonner, of Spartanburg, was in this section last Friday, on business. G. C. Price is confined to his bed with rheumatism. Here is the solution to theKernal’s corn problem. 56 pounds of corn make a bushel. 100 per cent, minus .02$ per cent, leaves .975. 5G divided by .975 gives 57.43tbs. 57.43 divided by 15 gives 3 82lbs which is 1-16 for toll; and 57.43tbs plus 8.82lbs gives 61.251bs, the amount to be taken to the mill to get a bushel of meal, allowing a bushel of corn to make a bushel of meal; therefore the answer is 61.251bs. Proof:—1-16 reduced to a decimal fraction is .0625. 100 per cent, minus .0625 gives .9375, and 57.431bs divided by .9375 gives 01.251bs; or 1-16 of 61.251bs is 3.821bs. and 2$ per cent, of the remainder is 1.431bs, and 3.82lbs and 1.43Ibs added is 5.25lbs, and 5.251bs sub tracted from 61.251bs leaves 561bs. If he meant for a bushel of meal to weigh 4Slbs the answer is 52.531bs. Our solution to the problem found in the teacher's examination paper is as follows: Eight months credit being given on each bill they will become due as follows: Due. Da. Items. | Product. Mar. 5. 98 0 $620.25 Apr. 11, 98 27 240.56 8.9C0.72 May 20, 98 76 821.64 14,444.54 June 12, 98 99 510.88 50,527.62 July 1, 98 108 308.00 33.264.00 | 2UUUS3 | ioCiao.Mf 107,136.98 divided by $2000.83 gives 54 days.nearly. March 5th plus 54 days equals April 28, answer. An island is seventy-three miles in circumference and three footmen start together and travel around it id the same direction. A goes five miles an hour, B 8. and C 10; in what time will they all come together again if they travel 12 hours a day? Solve this by arithmetic. Corncracker. During the past two years, Mrs. J. W. Alexander, wife of the editor of the Waynesboro, Miss., Times, has, in a great many instances, relieved her baby wten in the first stages of croup, by giving it rhamherlain’s Cough Remedy. She looks upon this remedy as a household necessity and believes that uo bettui' inediciua has ever been put in bottles. Thers are many thousands of mothers in this broad land who are of the sains opinion. It is the only remedy that can always be depended upon as a preventive and cure for croup. Ths 25 and 50 cent bottles for sale by the DuPre Drug Company.