Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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T1I.I WE KL Y EDITION.) WINNSI3O,O S.C . S ATU" A, F.UIU 1 1L1RJATY 15,.18719 ?- VOL.3.N) TIHE PHOSPHATE QUESTION. ---o AOMET'HING MORE ON 4 XTJAV ?N'TING TOPIC. A Communloation from Maj. T, W. Woodward. 1lfes srs. ls'ditors: In suggesting that the phosphate extortion be con sidored either in mass meeting or before the Damocratic clubs, if was not my intention, as you seem to think, to divert Democracy from its d'true and legi.imate channel, and m'ike it again of b'.d odor, by having it dabble in phosphates, Far from it--for I h we lively and not pleas ant recollections of a time not re motely in the past history of this county, when Democrats had an ex:'eodingly bad enell in the nos trils of some of our people. You mi dht havo s 1ved your homily on the: d.oteS oi Doinocratic clubs, for I a3ure you tiat I shall be -one of the last to in; dir the political effn .ci ;ney of these associations. DIy i ioc w cs this-th,t it i-ngiht be in. convenient for our people from all p11rts to assemble in the court-house, and that it would suit better when ta ;o clubs bi ihm9t and transacted all political busiie:;s and adjourned, to do us is done at the Gieenbrier C.,ib, mnow as eitizens and discuss all inatturs of interest to the com muunity. If this rtile does not pro vail generally cmongst the clubs, let me suggest it, and your club meetings wili be.of much more in terest and us:fulness. You have also somewhat strained my position when you lay down as a p1;oposition of mno, "that fertili ze iatever tho.r price, ire a curse." I don't tuink tiS a : giti m:lto deduction from my article, although I do assert th It at present prices, and at all previous rates, they have only paid the sellers ; what might be done with lower liv ing prices, and if used judiciously and moderately in conjunction with composts, is a problem which1 agri culturalists will now have to -olve, and I am11 not willing tuat I shall be put upon record as having pre,j udgo(l adversely of the scheme. To say that there are none of the elements of a fortilizor in these compounds, would be to deny the experience of every farmer in the land, and to come directly in conflict with the accumulated wisdom and knowledge of scientists, and toignore the pla:in ost teachings of agricultural chem istry. And yet, I.call for. the name of one man who has enriched his lands by their use-sololy. Now, Messrs. Editors, the scientists s:ay that the usual planta tion coin post-pile lacks many of the essentials of a good manure, and I shall not doubt them ; for the world owes too much to these men, and I have too much respect for their opinions, and too little knowledge myself to come in conflict with them. But call as above for those who have enriched their lands by their use, and yon will be answered by .legions of farming men from the mountain to the seaboard, and you will iad ramat those wvho rel)ort the richest lands have used the most compost. This does not anthorize us to say that theso manures might not hivo been hetter, and these results attained more quickly had we made judicious admixture of phosphates or chemicals, but it does prove clearly that barnyard manures, per 80, are vastly superior to all guanos, phosphntes or other merchantable commodities known as fortilizers. Then, again, examine the lands of those who have been the largest users of the phosphates,; and you find invariably that where these Jands have not been rested, detLeriorationl, i. e., loss of fertility, has been the result, and I can pro cure affidavits from as good farm ers as are in the land, certifying to the fact that no results were visible from its application upon land which had been .constantly used thus--proving beyon I poradventLure that phosphates had exeausted the fertility, or that manufacturers have swindled the community. It is more charitable, and I believe more correct, to ascribe the cause to the' first term of this proposition. We are authorized, then, to assert that phosphates as used now, and in the past, impoverish our lrnd,. or that they are not mnanures. Is it not folly, then, to buy thomn? And 'are they not a earso, at6least so long as used as at present ?. It is urged by some athat we ehoujld use thorn as promoters of vegetable growth-which is to be returned to the soil. Persons advocating this idea should recol loot that a plant which has been made to attain double its sizo by the use of those stimulants, has doubly drawn from the earth those elements which were necessary to form it at half the size. And it may be made a question whether or not anything has boon added at last-or enough additional tow pay for the cost of the fertilizer. Compost manures are superior to phosphates, in wy opinici, because they furnish more vegetable matter, which, being resolved into its origi, element of earth, adds Aunua, or fine soil, to the land, and remains unaffected by chemical changes--a permanent real addition of better dirt. I have seen one good broad cast application of litter from the woods show for ten years on the crop. Note the difference in the appearance of crops under dead trees which have been left standing, and where plants have had the bone. fit of dropping bark and branches. Who has over seen a piece of land full of vegetable matter, that failed to produce remunerative crops to the last. Phosphates are inferior to com posts, because they furnish little or nothing which by decomposition generates humus--which is the essence of fertility---and because by their stimulative action they cause plants to consume more of this humus, just as a drink of brandy before dinner whets the appeite. But, say some, my yield is increased by this sharpened appetite of the plant. This is true, and if it wore proposod only to convert the humus of our land with produce by the shortest and quicket route, I would advocate the precise plan now pursued. Let me remark just here, brother farmers, that whoever farms for a lay only, and does not regard his l:nds with that kindly, considerate care and attention which are due to his domestic animals, invites poverty, and do serves that ruin which cannot be averted by emigration to virgin landa where his butchering powers e Inn be repeated. When I said in Darlington that the phosphate beds were a curse, I meant tIt they would prove a curse by being improperly used, i. e., that the advantages in hand ling them would cause diminution in the size of our more bulky com post piles, and that the country would run into excess in their use, and produce crops so large that cotton-the only available money crop for the South--would cease to be remunerative, and our lands would be left too poor to produce anything else. My predictions have been more th'an verified ; and I shall close by giving my brother farmers another warning : . Unless you divert yourselves of the foolish ambition to grow rich suddenly, loariding that the true philosophy of life is to adopt ourselves to sur rounding circumstan~ces, and that: a pioor people must not have rich ways. I tell you now that ruin complete and widesyread will soon envelop our fair land. Stop pur chasing manures and become manui facturers of them. Teach your selves that it is a crime to burn brush and logs, because by being piled and allowed to rot, large additions of hqrmus are made to your soils. Level all your rows and water furrows upon fields planted or sown, for the reason that all muddy water which runs from your field not only takes humus8 in solution, but also sweeps off trash upon th6 surface, which would soon add more .to the soil. Having done this, systematize your labor, as is done in every other p art of the world. Hlave regular hours and signals to commene work and to stop work, and rules as to how the work is to be done being sure to be on hand yourself to see the rules carried out, Teach your laborer, wvhether he be white or black, that when he hires to you for a year or for any other period, ho has sold his services, and that you are entitled to them. Don't forget also, brother "clod-hoppers," to pray earnestly for the continued success of atraightout D)emocracy; for verily I say unto you, that upon the continued supremacy of charac ter and intelligence depends even the successful tillage of our soil. And should the time ever come when phosphate corporations ex hibit more soul than is visible at present, and r-educe their stuffs to living rates, we will buy enough to mix a little with our omp osts. t.W. WooDwMaD. Pay von snhsarlntion. TRUTIrORVSIED TO EARTH. Mr. Tilden Exonerated from the Cipher Calumny--What Weed and Pelton Bay About it. The Potter sub -committee in Now York, investigating the cipher do spatohes, examined Smith Wod, a Democratic politician of New York of doubtful flavor, who was in Co. lumbia just before and after the count of tbo Canvassing Board in 1876. His evidence was that after making nrrangemen(a with the Board through Mr. Hardy Solomon for a sale at sixty thousand dollars he went to Baltimore to meet Colonel Pelton, Tilden's nephew, who had promised to bring the money. Pel ton did not produce it, and the scheme failed. Four hours after South Carolina was counted for Hayes. Colonel Pelton the next day was put through a rigid exami. nation. He appears to have been an officious individual, who, without any authority from Mr. Tilden, or any office in the N tional Commitee, pretended to ba a m-inuh p'ece, and and devised with Wood and others a plan to buy up the Boards in South Carolina and Florida. He never dared to tell Mr. Tilden about this, but expected to get the money from the Executive Committee, or from some outsiders. On receipt of Weed's last telegram, he went to Baltimore to meet him, and before leaving, he intimated to Mr. Edward Coop'r, of the Conm:ttre, now may or of New York, that he might want money. On reaching Baltimore he received a telegram from Cooper, and another from Mr. Tilden him self, repudiating any bargain, and ordering him home. Mr. Tilden absolutely refused to have any thing to do in the matter, stati'g that he never would be President under such circumstances. It is said that Pelton was mierely a pen sioner on hia uncle, and that the latter has had nothing to do' with him since the revelation about the boards. The testimony of all. par ties completely exonerates Mr. Til" den from all complicity in fraud. It is proved beyond cavil that both Canvnwinig Bards were "ou the market," and the fact that Mr. Tilden, who owns millions, refused to plank up a paltry sixty thousand dollars to secure the office, is proof conclusive that he was never engag ed in the attempt to purchase them. It looks as if Mr. Tilden is about to come out of the investigation un scathed, the only one of the lkading spirits on both sides that did not barter for the Presidency. DEALING IN FUTUREs.-The Ken tucky Court of Appeals has recently rendered a decision upon a case of "futures," the points of which may be summed up as follow ers : "Speculating in futures, where no actual delivery of the article bought or sold made, but only the,,differ once in money between the value at the time of purchase and at the time I fxed for delivery is to be paid, is gamnblingq and illegal. But the intent to pay only the difference in value, and not to deliver the goods must be clearly proven, not inferred from custom. Even proof that the difference was actually paid in money in this wa~y will not suffiee unless it be also proved that it wvas the intent at the time of the con tract, that the settlement should be made in this way. The Court admits the wrongfulness of this practice, and that as practiceclIt is gambling, but it will not take eis proof of gambling in this ease the wvell known custom that prevails, or evidences that would establish other species of gambling." KMP TON AND HIs LAwYER.-The two lawyers who helped ox-Financial Agent Kimpton, of South Carolina, out of his trouble in Massachusetts last autumn are no longer p leased with his character. The Springfield Republican says : "Considerable expense was incurred, which they paid, taking Kimtpon's note at three months for two hundred dollars to reimburse them. This they endors ed at Westfield. When it fell due In December Kim pton wrote asking that it be renewed, and the bank allowed an extension of forty.,ive days. The time was out Natur day last, and the bank, refusing longer to renew, demanded one hundred dollars each of the twro lawyers, which they paid to save t$eir credit. One of them has writteni to Governor Chamberlain asking hkn. 'what kind of a scoundrel his fri mnd Kimpton is'."-Y. Y. Evening.Poet. The~ salary of thie VZ of Maine hau besa se4ed fro ;600~ toQ $1.800. THE STATE GRANGE. --0-- - fEGULA1i METING OF TI[E OR DER IN CHARLESTON. Opening Exercises--Discussing the Phosphate Grievance--Coneiderlng Other Evils -An Excursion Around the Harbor. The State Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry of South Carolina met in the Masonic Temple, Charles ton, an the 5th instant, and was oponed by the Worthy Master in the fourth degree. Presut : J. N. Lipscomb, Worthy Mi.stor ; Dr. A. B. Rose, acting as Overseer ; P. B. Brow.i, Steward ; D. W. Cuttino, acting Chaplain ; A. M. Aiken, Treasurer ; Thonns W. Holloway, Secretary ; Mrs. R. A. Love, acting L. A. Ste .vird. D3lega,tes from fifteen counties were present, Gen. Bratton, and Dr. Clayton represent ing Fairfield. Raports of the officers an 1 comnittees wore read, and standing committees appointed. A number of petitions and resolu tions on the phosphate question were read and referred. Bro. E. L. Roche ofbred the following, which was acopted : Resolved, Tiat the kind invita tion from the Town Council of Chester, to hold a summer meeting in that town, be accepted, and the thanks of this Grange be return ed to the same, and thit the matter be referred to the ex utive commit tee of the State Giange and that of the State Agricultural and Meohimical Society to lix the time. Bro. J. N. Parrott introduced the f~fowi:g. which w:, adopted : !:3<i' ZL1daed. That a comm1ittee of flive be auppoin el by the W. M. for the purpose of devising some plan to reduce the rates of storfage and insurance charged on cotton con signed to Charleston. The W. M. appointed the follow ing committee : J. N. Parrott, L. B. Stephensou, A. B. Bose, D. X. Nor ris, A. M. Atkinson. On motion, the secretary and executive committee of the State Grange were empowered to furnish to the News and Courier such matter as they may deem proper for publication. Bro. W. M. Quirk offered the following, which was adopted : laesolved, That the W. M. appoint a cowtmittee of three to suggest some plan, if practicable, to secure a cotton warehouse for the storage of Grange cotton in the city. The members of the Grange then took an excursion around the harbor which was much enjoyed. On Wednesday the Grange met at 7 P. M. An invitation from the secretary and treasurer of the Charleston Bagging Factory Company, was accepted. The special order for 8 P. M. was then called, and the Grange entered upon an election for oilicers, with the following result: J. N. Lipscomb, WV. M., Newberry ; A. B3. Rose, WV. O.. Charleston ; WV. WV. Russell, WV. L., Anderson ; Wmn. Quirk, Steward, Darlington ; A. P. West, 4. S., Edgefield : . D. Perry, chaplain, WXilliamsburg ; A. Md. Aiken, treasurer Abbeville ; T. W Holloway, secretary, Newherry ; J. N, Parrott, G, K., Darlington ; Mrs. R. D, Perry, Ceres, Williamsburg; Mrs. E. IL. Roebe, Pomona, Charles ton ; Mrs. IL. L. Wiley, Flora, Ches ter ; Mrs, R. A, Love, IL. A. S., Chester. Executive committoo-J3ohn Brat,. ton, Fairfield ; E. IL. Rochec, Char leston ; J. WV. Norris, Anderson. The following resolutions were made a special order for the meet ing next year : That the Master of the State Grange shall be a salaried officer, and shall not be at the same time the incumbent of any political office in the State or the United States. That he shall visit each county every year. That the meets ings of the State Grange shall be hereaftei' held alternately in Green ville or Spartanburg, Columbia and Charleston, and shall be held for one week, And that the first day shall be devoted to an exhibition open to all patrons in the Ufnited States, and that lecturers shall be appointed by the master. On Thursday a number of reports for the good of the order were read, with the announcement from Secre tary Kelly that the National Grange has adopted an amendment fixing the initiation fee of men at three dollars andtof women at one dollar. The committee on aQIjr pre seatedI a series of res aiti which were adopted and which state : 1. that the Grange earnestly remon strates against the wrong done, in advancing the price after the ad journment of the Legislature. 2 That no intention exists to injure the manufacturers. 3. That the subordinate Granges will take steps recommended by the State Grange to renedy the wrong. 4. That the whole action and correspondence on this matter shall be kept in the strictest secrecy. The co-operation of the Georgia Grange. was asked. The Grange then closed in duo form. adPT4I.y B4) I$2TR87XNWD. (From 'the Qlavelnnd Leader, Jan. 30.] Said the correspondent, "Captain, bow much water is there now be tween the jetties 7" "Sometimes over twenty-three feet," he replied. "How much money have you thus far received on their account 7" "About $1,600,000. I have had this in four payments; one of $500.000 upon getting twenty feet of water ; one of $500,000 upon get ting twenty-two feet ; an advance ment of $500,000 to satisfy some of my creditors. and a payment to-day of about $100,000 for work done since the 10th of December. I have now done four-fifths of the work on the jetties and have only received about one-quarter of my pay. To. day New Orleans, the Mississippi River and the entire country are receiving the benefit of the jetties. I have spent all the money I can possibly raise on them, have assumed all risks of failure and almost made the ma.perfect success; but my meah1 aro ex hausted, and I want Congress to help me out. It is a general rule that all contractors for the gov, ernment receive about ninety per cent of the cost of what they are doing. Why should not I be treat ed in the same way? This has turned out to be a mighty hard bargain financially, although prac. tically I am fully satisfied with its success. So are the engineers of the government; so are the sailors, who have abandoned the old pass and adopted the route through tho jetties." I then asked if a bar outside the jetties was forming in the manner predicted by the Cincinnati Com. mercial and the rest of the press hostile to his endeavor. "Not at all," said he, "as they predicted ; but the sediment car ried out by the river has to go somewhere, and the whole Gulf of Mexico will be filled by the time the Rocky Mountains are washed down into it. The jetties, however, throw the mud far out into the Gulf, and a west current spreads it over a large area to the west. At present the water directly in the mouth of the jetties is deepening and I calculate that when com pleted they will not require to be extended for 400 years." "Do you intend closing up the othor passes through which the rest of the r'iver finds its way to the sea ?" "No, sir ; we do not. That wvould give us too much water, undermine the present jetty banks and swamnp us. Weo at present use but ten per cent of the river. W'heni wve get thirty feet of water it will be a trifle more, but at present this is all wve want." "Who are the stockholders in the South Pass jetty companies?" "They are mostly St. Louis, Pittsburg and New Orleans gen tiemnen. I do not care to mention names," was the reply. "How long will it take to coms phote the jetties, Captain?" "About four months." "WVhen will there be thirty feet of water there 7" "Well, sir, that is a little more difficult to answer ; but I am con fident that we shall have it in fifteen months, at the furthest, after their completion." "Captain, is there any truth in the report that you are to improve the Potomac front of Washington, so as to dry up the marshes and get a harbor for sea-going vessels?'' "I have been spoken to on the subjeet, and have suggested a plan by which it could be done;i yet I do not think I shall take hold of it very soonl." So ended the interview. Captain ]Bads :has accomplished two great works of engineering, in the most common sense kind *of a way,undr uparaleled4 financial. diflulie,and in the face of a relentless war upon him, wage4 y the technical and doctrimati~ m engineers of the polytechnic i.s .stitutes, from which lie las nog been so fortunate as o be a ma.