The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, March 16, 1897, Image 1

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VOi,. XII NO. 38. VANDERBILT PALACE AT BILTMORE, N, C. BIX M liii.lt >N KOliIiAKS HAS BEEN SPENT ALREADY. A Plaoo of Rare Beauty Now-Old Forest Has Been Turned Into Mag nllleent Game Preserve?Thousands of Strangers Visit the Estate Special to Atlanta Constitution. George W. Vanderbllt has donomore than any ono man to attract peoplo to North Carolina. Hla lordly estate with Its magnificent chateau is the supreme object of interest to many of tbo tbousunds of annual visitor* to the metropolis of the "Land of tho Bky." A fow days ago I had tho opportuni ty of seeing tbo " Blltmore Estate," as It Is otliclully named, under exception ally good circumstances. I was Invited to accompany the otllcial photograph er. As I bad driven over the estate several times before, I thought I knew it quite thoroughly, but never before bad I seen It as on this occasion. The BUtmoro estato consists of 100.0OU acres of land in tho choicest section of tho far-famed 11 Land of the Sky." Tho palace is located in a tract of 10,000 acres, at BUtmoro station, on tbo Southern railway, which is two miles fiom the eourtuouso In Ashovllle. Tho other 00,000 acres Is woodland, and extends over several countlCB, and up tho sideot Mount Pisgah, the ttltest peak of the Bluo ltidgo mountains visible uround here. Tbl* groat game preserve is being Btooked In a metho dical manner with quail, pheasants, deer, etc. Tho forest is also being cured for by experts in growing trees und shrubbery. Tbo purk in which tho magnificent chateuu is situated is most beautifully laid out by Frederick Law Ol instead, tho fumous landscupe artist, with roads smoother than the government boulovurds of Chlckamauga national park. This Is because Mr. Vanderbllt has his roads daily sprinkled with watering catts and frequently rolled. The entrance to tbe park at BUtmoro Is through u largo aud imposing lodge gate, quito ICngllsh you know. Bere you show your permit to visit tho grounds, which you huvo proviously secured ut the otlico building of Mr. Charles MoNamoe, general manager of tho estate, In tho villugo of Bilt moro. Permits to enter and viow the estate uro only granted on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons from 1 to (i o'clock, and In printed form, uro some thing llko a railroad ticket. Tho palace is about tbreo miles from the lodge gate. There are some sixty miles of roadway in the park, of which tho chief drive, twelve miles long, Is called "The Arboretum." It is fring ed, or bordered, with Ivies, honey suckles and banks of shrubbery. There are many queer and curious species in the 6,000,000 propagated plants along this winding and picturesque drive way. Oae of tbo most common Is tho Madagascar periwinkle, of which there ure thousands, and which bears a bright-colored Ho wer. Tho curving bridges and artificial lakes and water falls uro all bo constructed as to look entirely natural. As to the palace, it is the most picturesque and beautiful building ono can Imagine. The location Is tdo 1, on top of an clovated plateau, which can bo seen for miles around In every dirootlun. Tho Blltmore house faces east. At the foot of the bill just bock of It tho babbling Swannanoa rlv?r serpentlnoly rolls and beyond the Blue Kldgo mountains kiss the clouds. Tho house is built of Indiana gray limestone, and as it glistens in the sun light, inic. lit bo appropriately culled a "white palace." Its extreme length Is .'n.r> feet. Stilt It* beuutiful propor tions seem to diminish the size of It. In stylo of architect ure it is of the "French renaissance" The greatest width Of tho building Is 102 feet. Tho height from basemont to turret is 100 feet. A mammoth granite retaining wall on tho southern end of the build ing is impressive hecuuse of its splen did construction. It is forty feet high in some pluces, and 333 feet long. Beyond this great retaining wall, and In front of the residence, appears tbe esplanude 333 feet long and ".';> fcot in width. In the center of this esplanade. Is a costly fountain some thirty f- et In diameter. GritUns and dragons chisel ed from lmmenso blocks of stone etand out several feet from the wall. Musi oians of many nations uro tho unique designs under tho window openings. Thero aro about ono hundred looms In tho house. Forty of these are sleep ing apartments. There aro twonty luxurious bath-rooms. There are tbreo elevators. Entering tho main floor from tbo terrace, tho visitor is at onco struck with tho buauty of tho winter garden, which is built In octagon form and is about sixty feet square. All tho principal rooms aro soon from its many largo windows iu almost kalm 'scope completeness. To the west is i... salon forty foot In length. To tho north of the garden and corridors surrounding is the ban quet hull and west of this is tho break last room, beyond whloh Is tho main kitchen. The banquet ball is seventy two feet long, forty-two feet wide and seventy feet high, with one span and u domo coiling. It Im. not been finish - ed up yot, but It is said to be Mr. Van derbilt's intention to make it one of the most gorgeous rooms of its kind in this country. At tho western end of this hall are three massive triple fire-places of almost gigantic propor tions. At the eastern ond there is an organ loft and a balcony for musl oians. Another feature of the main floor Is the living ball, sixty by thirty feot In size. Immediately west of too hall way, under tbe main ball Is tho tuuslo room. There Is also a swimming pool slx'y feet long and thirty feet wide, adjoining which aro needle baths, sprays and the like. North of tbe living hall Is the " tapestry gallery." Three large panels have been built In tbe walls to receive valuable tapes trlos to be placed thoro by Mr. Vander bllt. This will also bo used as the ploturo gallery. At one side of tbe fallery are two large atone fireplaces n tho sixteenth century decoration. To the -math of the gallery is tbe library, sixty by for ,y feet. This is at tbe extreme south end of tho building and opens out on tbo library terrace - and bowling green. On tbo western end of the building Is the stable, aooommodatlng forty horses. Near by aro the gunroom and billiard room. Thoro is, also, con nected with tho palace an electrlo light plant and a steam laundry. The green bouses aro tho most perfeot tbat i, money could buy, and must have cost, with heating apparatus, etc., not loss than $00,000. They contain ovor 1,800 different varieties of flower plants. I havo never seen anything so muoh like paradise as a view through the bot houses. Fivo or six dozen Ameri can Beauty rosos had been cut to de corate, the pa'ace for tho day. One of tho palms, of whloh thero are scores, is so large that it takes sixtoen men to mot? it. ! Everything is planned and executed on tho most elaborate and magnificent scale. Tho cost of "Biitmore House" and grounds immediately surround ing is said to bo to date $6,000,000. There has beon an expenditure of an additional 92,000,000 In purchasing the timber lands, building houses and roads, stocking tho game preserves, etc. Several more millions will be spont later on. On the several thousand acoes of cleared land on the estate scientific farming Is earrlod on -to perfection. The crops aro very beautiful. Too finest oorn, w'>oat, barley, olover, bay, potatoes, etc., are grown. At the North Carolina state fair at Italoigh last fall a very fine exhibit was maue from the Biltmoro estate, and many blue ribbons captured, I do not sup pose that Mr. Vandorbllt cares to make anything out of his investments here, but nevertheless, there aro several sources of iucomo. The prido of tho estate is tho Bilt moro dairy. Thero are over ono hundred head of the finest Jersey cows. Milk is sold in Asbeville at 25 cents per gallon, or at 7 cents per quart in 'sealed bottles." Tho milk is "steri lised" and "pastourized" and prepared scientifically and medically in other ways. Croam is sold at $1 per gallon a.nl butler at 35 cents per pound. Much of tho lutter is shipped to New York. The vegetables grown on tho ostato albo find a good market in Asbe ville and olsowbero. The Biitmore Lumber Company is the name unaer which Mr. Vunderbilt conducts a large sawmill business. Tho sawmill has a eapaelty of 25,000 to 30,000 feet per day. The out is mostly ofnard wood and tho lumber is shipped north. The expenditure of tho $8,000,00? already put out aud the entire manage ment and direction of tho B. It more estate devolves upon Mr. ChurlcB McNamee, an able New York attorney. He first camo to Asheville for Mr. George W. Vanderbilt on May 1, 1888. Tho following year ho buii? a house on ono of the bills within tho Vanderbilt park and has biuce resided here. His first work was tho purchasing of 100, 000 acres of land. It was bought in small tracts mostly. Titles had to bo examined autl deeds drawn and re corded on each tract. Diplomacy had to be used to get the land desired and not to pay exorbitant prices. Mr. Mc Namee lias shown remarkablo business and executive ability aside from bis astuteness as an attorney. A railroad about four miles in length was built from Biltmoro station on tho Southern railroad to the site for the palace. This was necessary for the hauling of stone aud other material used in the construction. Hundreds of contracts had to be let. About bix hundred hands wero employed dally for several years at work on the house, in tho park, at the brick and terra cotta yards and kilns, at tho sawmill and on the agricultural lands. Mr. McNamee systematized every thing. Depart ments were organized, suob as horti culture, forestry, agriculture, tlorl eulturo, etc., and chiefs appointed over each. The manager can Bit in his handsome oiflco building In the village of Biltmoro and receive reports as to the smallest detail in each depart ment from its head man. Everything goes on as smooth as clockwork. Mr. McNamee was born at lrvingtou on-the-Uudson. After an elaborate college course he graduated from the Columbia college law school in 1877. While in college he enjoyed instruc tion under Professor Theo. W. Dwight, who is acknowledged ono of the greatest expounders of the law of this age. In New York city he was a mem ber of tho law firm of Davies, Wo.-k, McNamee & Hiltjn. They had an ex tensive practice and some very cele brated cases. Many of their cas'js went before tho United States supremo court. When in the latter part of tho '80s Mr. Georgo W. Vanderbilt decided to build his place in the " Land of tho Sky" ho wisely selected Mr. McNamee to tako charge of tho ? reat work. That ho made no mistake has been amply proven. Through tho beneficence of Mr. George Vanderbilt u handsome Episco pal church has been ereoted in tho village of Biltmoro. From the strik ing and peculiar architecture no ono would ever imagine that it has a seat ing capacity of 220 The queer ap poaranco of tho structure is caused from the " lantern," or roof tower, which is sixty feet high. The goneral ftyle of tho urcbltocture is early Gothic. No churches like it havo ever boen constructed in the Southern Slates, though thoy are very common in tho mountain districts of England, where they aro built of stone and aro much more tnassivo than this church. The materials used in tho construc tion aro pressed brick and rough cast with a clay single roof. Tho towor is situated over the crossing of the nave and chancel. Oa tho Interior tho roof is open timbered. The finish is of oak. The oaken coiling of the navo and chancel has deeply molded ribs. Tho pews, choir stalls and altar aro of earved oak. The floor hi of oak wood block aud laid herring bone pat torn. Tho electrical fixtures, which aro of brass, aro unusually magnificent. There aro five electroliers, which will illuminate tho auditorium brilliantly. The windows aro of cathedral glass. Tho work on the church began Oatobor 1, 1895, and was completed during the past summer. The cburcb was 'designed by the late Itiebard M. Hunt, of New York, who also planned tho magnificent chateau of Mr. Van derbilt, and was constructed under the supervision of Arohiteot lt. S. Smith, the resident architect of the Biltmoro estate. In general tarms it may be stated that All SoulV church is a miniature catbodral. Ono of the moat attractive features of Ashovllle Is Its sixteen beautiful dl ives In as many different directions. It is claimed that tho olty has annually 75,000 visitors. The livery stables aro numerous, well equipped and do a flushing business. The negro drivers of those vehicles, as might bo expect ed, bavo many marvelous stories to tell tho sightseers. One of those con cerns Charley Collins, a negro, who owns a cabin and eleven acres of land, and that Mr. Vat 'orbilt bas offered him $11,000 for the nlace and that the colored man has re. u, sd it. While it is true that Mr. Vanderbilt owns the land all around Charley Collln's humble oabln, yet It is rather more on the edge than the oentor of the estate and does not annoy Mr. Vanderbilt In tho least. Tho purposo of Mr. Vanderbilt in the Biltmoro estate appears to be of exalted grandeur. He Is collecting plants, trees and shrubs from all parts of tho world. The magnificent ostafvo Is to bo open at all times to students and scientists who are pursuing tho study of botany. They will be afforded every advantage and opportunity for their chosen work. Dr. Chapman, tho venerable botanist, of Apalaohloolo, Fla., one of the greatest authorities In tho south, and who baa written several books, has boon Invited by Mr. Van dorbllt to spend somo time at Biitmore examining the flora of tho estate. Many other eminent soholars havo visited the estate. Hod. Julius Ster ling Morton, secretary of agriculture of the United. States, recently said of the Blltmore estate: ''It <b a far greater object loeson to the American people tbau our national department of agrloulture." ACTS OF THE JLUKGIfelLiATUUK. An Aot to apportion the road fund de rived from the special county levy. Be It enacted by tho General Assem bly of tho Stato of South Carolina : Soc. 1. That on and after the passage of this Aot the county board of com missioners of the several count'es of the State where thero is a special levy on real and personal property for road purposes, not later than the iirst of March in each year, shall apportion the road fund derived from such spe cial lovy to each township upon an equitable basis. Sec 2. Tho road fuud so apportioned shall be expended In doing all neces sary work upon the public highways and In opening new roads when direct ed, and iu building and in keeping in repair all bridges that do not exceod twelve feet in length by the road over seers under tbo direction of tbo town ship board of commissioners, subject to the general supervision and approv al of tho county board of commission ers : Provided, however, that tho board of county commissioners shall not enter into any contract for tho ex pondituro of rnoro than four-fifths of their apportionment boforo the first of the last quarter of tbo fiscal yoar : Provided, further, that any contract entered Into by tbo board of county commissioners in excess of tho appor tionment shall bo void: l'rovidod, furthor, that tbo provisions of this Act shall not apply to tho counties of Ab boville, Anderson. Falrfield, Wloronco, Chester, Kershaw, Orangoburg, SDar tanburg, Lexington, Ricbland, York and Sumter: Provided, further, that no funds shall bo disbursed under the provisions of this Act except at tho written request of tho board of town ship commissioners, specifying tbo amount and purpose. Sec. 3. That no township commis sioner shall be directly or indirectly interested in any contract pertaining to his duty as townshio commissioner. Sec. 4. All Acts or parts of Acts in consistent with this Act aro hereby repealed. Approved February 17, 1807. An Aot to provide tbo pupils attend ing the free publio schools with school text books at actual cost. Bo It enacted by the General As sembly of the State of South Carolina: Seo. 1. That tho county boards of education of tho Beveral counties of this State be, and they are hereby, authoriz *d and empowered toset aside from the public school funds of their respective oountios an amount not exceeding $500 for the purposo of pro viding tho pupils attending tho free publio schools of their counties with school text books at actual cost or ex obange prices. Seo. 2. Tbat the amount so sot asido from the school funds shall be pa'd to tbo county superintendent of education by tbo county treasurer out of tho un appropriated gene I'll 1 School fund.; in his bands, on the warrant of tho coun ty board of education. Soc. 3. That tho amount so set aside by the county board of education shall he. and romain a permanent fund in j tho hands of tho county superinten dent of education, to bo usod in pur chasing and keeping on hand school toxt books for salo to pupils uttouding the free public schools of his county, for cash, at actual cost or oxchango prices, and to be used for no other pur poso and in no othor mannor. Sec. 4. That for the full and just ac counting for said money and hooks, and ull Iiis acts and dealings relating thereto, tho county superintendent of education 6ball bo responsible on bis official bond. Soc. 5. That no tax or license, cither State, county or municipal, shall he imposed on or required of tho county superintendent of eduoation on account of the purchasing and furnishing said books to the pupils as afjrosAe'. Sec. 6. That this Act shall bo a gen oral Act and apply to all the counties of the Stute from and after its approv al. Sec. 7. Tbat all Acts and parts of Acts inconsistent herewith be, and tbo samo aro boroby, repealed. An Act to prohibit trusts and combi nations and provide pouaities. Be it enacted by the General Assem bly of tho Stite of South Carolina : Sec. 1. That from and after the passage of this Act, all arrangements, contracts, agreements, trusts or combi nation* bet.vee.n two or moro persons as individuals, firms or corporations, made with a view to lessen, or which tonds to lessen, full and free competi tion in tho importation or salo of ar ticles imported into this State, or in the manufacture or salo or articlos of domestic growth or of domestio raw material, and all arrangements, con tracts, agreements, trusts or combina tions between perBons or corporations designed or which tend to advance, reduce or control tho prico or tho cost to tho producer or to tho consumer of any such product or nrticlo, aro boro by declared to bo against public policy, unlawful and void. Sec. 2. Whenever complaint is made upon sufiiclont affidavit or affidavits I showing a prtma faclecase of violation i of tbo provisions of tho first section of ] thiB Act by any corporation, domestic or foreign, it shall be tho duty of tho 1 Attorney General to b3gin an action against such domestic corporation to forfeit its charter, and In case such violation shall be established the court shall adjugo the charter of such cor poration to bo for fei tod, and suob cor poration shall bo dissolved, and its j chartor shall coaso and determino *, and in tho caso of such showing as to a foreign corporation an action shall be begun by tho Attorney General In said court against such corporation to de termine tho truth of sucb oharge ; and In case such oharge shall be considered established, the effoet of tho judgment of tho court shall bo to denv to suoh corporation the recognition of Its cor porate existenco In any court of law or equity in this Stato. But nothing in this section shall be construed to affect any right of action then existing against suoh corporation. Seo. 3. Any violation of the provi sions of this Aot shall bo deemed and Is hereby declared to be destructive of full and froo competition and a conspl raoy against trade, and any person or pnrnons who may engage In any suoh conspiracy, or who shall, as principal, manager, direotor or agont, or in any other capacity, knowingly carry out any of tho stipulations, purposes, prices, rates or ordors mado in further unco of such consplraoy, shall on con viction bo punished by a lino of not less than one hundred dollars or more than flvo thousand dollars, and by im prisonment in the penitentiary not ? less than at : months or moro than ten years, or in the judgment of tbo oourt by oilier suoh lino or suoh Imprison ment, 1 Seo. 4. That any person or persons damaged by any uucb arrangement, contract, agreement, trust or combina tion described In Section 1 of this Act, may sue for and recover, in any court of competent jurisdiction, the full consideration or sum paid by him or them for any goods, wares, merchan dise or artloles tbe sale of whloh Is controlled by suoh combination or trust. Soc. 5. That any and all persons may be compellablo to testify in any aotion or prosecution under this Act: Pro vided, that such tebtlmony shall not be used In any other aotion or prosecu tion against such witness or witnesses, and such witness or witnesses shall forever be exempt from any prosecu tion for tho act or acts concerning which he or they testify. See. 0. Nothing contained in this Aot shall be taken or uonstruod to ap ply to any porsun or persons acting in the discbarge of official duties under the laws of this State. Sec. 7. All Acts in conflict with this Act be, and the same aro beroby re pealed. Approved the 25th February, A. D. 1897. An Act to require all common carrlors to pay n" 1 ? - rt ? - ? ' ? ?? /? ? 'or loss, u .;;.,:o uua ureuKage of any articles shipped over their lines or to refuse to do so within a certain time. Be it enactod by tho General As sembly of tbo State of South Carolina : Sec. 1. That from and aftor tho ap proval of this Act all common carriers doing business in this Stite shall bo required to pay for or refuse to pay for all loss, broakago or damago from breakage,- damago or loss of articles shipped over tho l'nes of said common, carriers within sixty days from tho 11 ,ne u claim for tho raid articles so lost, broken or damaged shall be; made. Sec. 3. Thnt iucuso the said common carrier shall not pay or refus i to pay said claim for said loss, breukage or damago as set out in Section 1 of this Act within tho sixty doys thortun pro vided for, then tho said common car rier Bhall bo liable for tho sum of fifty dollars for each offonco us penalty, In addition to the amount of said looser damage, to bo collected by tho claim ant in any court having jurisdiction of the same. Sec. 4. All Acts or parts of Acts In consistent with this Act bo, and tho same aro hereby, repealed. Approved the 25th day of February, A. D. 1897. An Act prohibiting tho carrying of concealed weapons, providing a pen ally therefor aud incorporating a count for tho violation of the same in indictments for murdor, manslaugh ter, assuult und assault and battory a high of and aggravated nature, ussault and assault aud battery with intent to kill, and in every case whoro tho crimo Ik charged to have been committod with a deadly weap on. Be It enaotod by tho General Assem bly of the stale of South Carolina : Sec. 1. Any person carrying a pistol, dirk, dagger, plungshot, metal knuckles, razor or other deadly weap on usually used for tbo inlliction of personal injury concealed about his porson shell bo guilty of a misdemean or, and upon conviction thereof beforo a court of competent jurisdiction shall forfeit to the county tho weapon bo carried concoaled and bo fined in tbo sum of not more than one hundred dollars and not Icbs than twenty dol lars or be Imprisoned at hard labor not more than thirty nor loss than ten days, In tho discretion of the court. Nothing herein contained shall be construod to apply to persons carrying concealed weapons upon their own promises. Sec. 2. lu ovory indictment for mur dor, manslaughter, assault aud assault and battery of a hlgh_und aggravated nature, ubsuult and assault and battory with int-mt to kill, and in ovory cauu where the crime is charged to have been committed with a deadly woapon of the character specified in the first seotlon, thero shall bo u special count in said indictment for carrying concealed weapons, und tho jury shall bo required to Qnd a verdict on such special count; and all cases ombracod in this section, including tho currying of tho weapons, shall be in the exclu sive jurisdiction of the Court of Gen eral Sessions : Provided, that one-half of tbe tine shall go to the free school fund of tho county and tho other half to the pension fund of said county. Sjc. 3. That all Acts and parts of Acts inconsistent with this Act bo, and tbo sumo aro hereby, repealed. Approved February 17, 18U7. An Act .providing punishment for la borers who violato cither written or verbal contracts aftvr having receiv ed supplies. Be It enacted by tho General Assem bly of tbe Stato of South Carolina: Sec. 1. That any laborer working on oharos of crop or for wages in monoy or other valuablo consideration under a verbal or wiitton contract to labor on farm lands, who shall rccelvo ad vances either in money or supplios. and thereafter wilfully and without just cause fail to perform the reasona ble service required of him by tbo terms of tho said contract shall bo liable to prosecution for a misdemean or, and on conviction shall bo punished by Imprisonment for not less thnn twenty days nor moro than thirty days, or to be fined In the sum of not less than tweuty-fivo dollars nor more than ono hundred dollars, In the discretion of the court: Provided, tho verbal contract herein referred to shall bo witnessed by at loast two disinterested witnesses. Approved the 2d day of March, A. D. 1897. An Act authorizing tho railroad com missioners to require all railroads to orect at junctional points union de pots, and to impose, a penalty for their failure to do so whon required. Be it enacted by tho Gonoral Assem bly of the State of South Carolina : Sec. 1. That the railroad commis sioners of this Stato aro hereby in vested with authority to requb'o all railroads in this State to erect union or other depots for tho convonioneo and accommodation of tho public,and If any railroad company shall fall or rofuso to do so when required by tho said railroad commissioners It shall forfnlt and pay a sum of not less than (5,000, to be recovered In an action in any county in this State where such viola tion has ooourred, and shall bo in tho name of tbo State of South Carolina. Tbe commissioners shall institute such action through the Attorney General or any of tho solicitors of tbo Stato. Approved February 17, 1897. A joint resolution to extend tho time for tho collect ion of tbe commutation road tax In the several counties of the Stato to tho 1st of April, 1897. Whereas, during tho year 1890 the commutation road tax was collected until March 1, 1890: and whereas, tbe time was ohanged by the last Aot of tbo Legislature to be paid not lator than January 1, 1897, and many tax payers were not aware of tho ohunge. Be it resolved by the General Assem bly of the State of South Carolina; St. 1. That the time fcr tho collec tion of the commutation road taxes in the several counties of this State bo, and the same Is hereby extended until the 1st day of April, 1807, Instant, without tbe addition of the penalty, and all parties who Rhall pay suoh commutation tax on or before said date shall be exempt from punishment from default. That this joint resolution take ofteot Immediately upon approval. Approved February 11, 1897. THE DISPENSARY SALES AND PROFUS. FIGURES OF GUN URAL INTEREST. The Location of Each County Dis pensary and the Record of a Year. Columbia Stats. In view of the fact that it is genorul ly understood that thi? is to be a test year as to the operation of tho dispen sary law in this Stato, there aro many figures that It will be well to take a glance ovor at tho outset of the year. Tho General Assembly has continued tbe bills relating to the dispensary law to tbe next session, thus delaying for ono year every fight against tho law in accordance with Governor El lerbek destre lo iet tbe law bo thoroughly tested for a year bofore tbe system is interfered with at ull. During the year those who aro inter ested in the several fights browing for next year will carofully watch all mat tors bearing upon tho operation of the law. Its record will bo roviowod as a moral Institution, as a money-making institution and so on. Tho State accordingly gives tho fig ures covoidug the business as a whole on to date and showing tbe sales and profits in tho several county dispensa ries for tho past yoar, which aro worth clipping and saving. Tho board reports that tho not ac crued profit of the State dispensary from tho beginning of operations up to the oloso of tbe fiscal year ending Dec. 31, last, amounted to $400,753.88. Thero is an unearned profit reported of $57, G50 63, making tbe total accrued and uuearnod profit $524,404 51. Tho purchases of tho Statn hoard for tbe yoar 1898 aggregated $875,134.20. Tho purchases were heavier in Octo ber and Deoembor than in any other two months. Tho following shows tho disponsa ries in the State and gives the sales and net profits of each for tho yoar ending Dee. 31, last: Dispensaries. Salts. Xet Profits. Aoocvills.$ 31,654 67 $ 4,124 46 Adams Run.... 0.831 92 298 40 Aikeu. 29.071 16 2.570 91 Allendale. 12,420 ?t? 1,580 80 Anderson. 51 105 77 6.180 70 Bamberg. 17.271 30 2,125 63 Barnwell. 21,895 54 2.730 43 Beaufort. 21,879 95 2,130 20 Bishopville... 1.872 03 233 03 Blaeksburg... 7,017 38 450 09 Blackville_ 16 599 81 2,301 39 Branchvilla... 7,534 05 402 01 Hrunson. 4.283 31 270 42 Caraden. 24,784 39 2,553 44 Chapln. 4.257 10 188 98 Cheratv. 13,452 25 1,110 18 Chester. 39,700 90 4,439 43 Charleston: Von Santen. 30,401 81 2,391 02 Stelnmoyor. 22,378 21 1,479 09 Powers. 22 939 03 1.471 40 Meyer. 28.210 05 2.070 80 Mahlstedt... 22.203 30 1,000 00 Tlencken... 10.354 39 508 73 Sale. 20,701 8") 1,950 13 Forbes. 31,080 95 2,089 15 Columbia : Bookman.... 24,721 95 1,288 42 Cartlodge... 24,953 12 1,301 58 Scott. 13.717 07 081) 98 Price. 22,782 81 1,917 47 McKeuna... 30,544 21 2,018 30 McCain. 14,014 08 1,566 13 Darlington_ 41,778 40 4,080 52 Denmark. 7,890 85 739 38 Dillon. 17.073 80 1,303 74 Eilgefleld. 22,719 42 1,075 10 Ellenton. 980 00 22 01 Elloree. 8,244 36 323 20 Entawvllle_ 8.070 87 1775 20 Florence. 28,503 80 3,225 38 Fort Motte_ 6,771 28 422 34 Gaffney. 19,481 (JG 1,683 01 Georgetown... 30.278 40 3,662 45 Greelyvil'.e_ 5,270 48 330 72 Greenville : Hill. 30,800 93 3.952 82 loltzelaw... 11,180 71 045 50 Ilamnton. 6.355 08 459 20 Jucksonboro... 8.080 81 430 36 Korshaw. 11,849 89 757 17 Klngetree. 14 025 84 1,203 60 Lancaster. 17,032 40 1.303 90 Laurens. 35,648 52 4,520 42 Lexington. 8.23') 87 509 91 Livingston. 5,25b 00 208 92 Lnrav. 2.904 42 Manulng. 22.014 37 2,118 54 Marion. 20,337 15 1,350 85 Mayesvllle. 5,354 38 179 05 Monck's Cornor 0,074 99 72!) 04 Moultriovllle.. 3,791 51 245 44 Mt. Pleasant... 6 980 55 308 01 Nowborry. 42,005 98 6,215 15 Oraneehurg ... 30.513 80 4,012 12 Pendloton. 2,951 05 195 08 Pickens. 3,751 37 262 38 Port Royal. 9,111 20 081 11 Ran to wies. ... 917 72 21 17 Ridgoway. 6,534 65 215 72 Salkehatchle... 7,320 80 222 50 Seneca. 6,323 40 270 07 Scotia. 2,753 15 222 94 Spartanburg: Brown." 33.929 61 3,251 91 Wood. 38,075 20 3,029 28 Springfield.... 6,541 76 41128 St. Georges_ 6.388 89 407 05 St. Matthews... 11,240 57 1,000 43 St. Stephens. .. 8,664 09 171 79 Summmerville: Rhamo. 12,062 74 809 20 fid or ton. 6.229 54 17 12 Sumtor. 40,999 42 6,657 77 Sycamore. 4.301 80 252 09 Tlramonsvillo. . 13,118 21 1,382 93 Tirzah. 11.427 22 992 43 Toddvllle. 3,915 08 67 51 Union. 31,101 08 3,043 20 Varnville. 4,279 13 320 09 Wagoner. 4 777 55 257 01 Waltorboro_ 15,225 14 1,551 85 Williston. 5,925 13 449 29 Winnsboro. 20,580 07 1,203 17 Walhalla. 1,381 12 02 94 Ulmer. 1,397 40 105 05 Total.$1,402,109 59 $132,207 03 Great Improvements.?Tho Spar tanburg Herald says that the Charles ton and Western Carolina Railway has purchased thirteen locomotives, about two huudrod freight cars, twenty-two passenger coaches and a large numbor of fiat cars, to be delivered at an early dato. They have also bought ton mllos of new steel rails, wbioh will bo placed on the ma<n line and released rails used for sidetracks. Extensive Im provements will bo made at Port Royal and Augusta. Thoy have bought several largo ware-houses In Augusta and will oxtond their track down tho rlvor bank into tho vory heart of the city. Whon these terminals aro com pleted, tholr faolllties for handling business in Augusta will bo superior to any other Uno. Contracts havo also boon made for sovoral stool bridges. All of theao ImprovemontB will require an exponditure of aomo $600,009 or $000,000. ThoBo contemplated im provements will all be mado during the summer. A Full Confession of the Hunt Murderers, i _ THIS STORY GROWS IN ITS FIEN DISH ATROCITY. Tho Heartless AesassliiH Tell How Tbetr Victim Met His Tragic Death ?Thoy Robbod Htm After He Was Dead, Grady Reynolds and Bud Brook?, tho murderers of Millard O. Hunt, of Bjltou, Ua., were taken to Atlanta last week and lodged in tho jail there for safo keeping. The feeling in Jaoksou and surrounding counties was so strong against them that the otuoials feared mob violence. Tho jail at Jefferson, whore the prisoners had beeu coutiued for soverul days, is comparatively insecure, and a mob would havo had 1 iitlo trouble in gain ing an entrance. I A reporter for tho Constitution had an interview with the prisoners soon aftor their arrival in Atlanta, and obtained from Grady Reynolds the fullest confession yet mado as to the most cold-blooded murder that has ever been comtuiHed in tho South. Too btatomout is as follows : Tho murder of M. C. Hunt is one of tho most heartless crimes in tho crimi nal history of Georgia. Owing to tho remoteness of tho place, full dotails con id not bo secured beforo, but the murderers mado a full confession for the first timo to a Constitution man in tue jail last night, giving a full ac count of thoir harrowing dcod in its evory detail. Tho solf-confosscd murderers mako no secret of thoir awful crime. Thoy havo been forced by tho convincing proof against them to confess. Thoy uro both guilty aud will humbly sub mit to tho decoo of tho law, whether for lifo or death. They reali/.o they havo uo hope.; thoy know thoy deserve no morcy. Thoir crimo has been a heinous ono, aud thoy aro prepared to suffer for it. Both aro country men. rather poorly dressed. While thoir countenances are not oxaotly angelic, their faces would hardly iudicato such barbarous natures. Brooks is probably tho most depraved looking of the two. Ho has a boavy dark mustucho und dark blue oyus, with a kind of hang-dog expres sion about his mouth. Reynolds has an oval face, and hair slightly red, with blurred ^ray eyes. Ho looks liko a man who might havo been a huavy drinker. Ho is affabie, but as tho awful crimo ho has com mitted dawns more fully upon him, much more poignant is his regret, and ho says ho would give his life if neces sary, if ho hud not killed the merchant. Reynolds is tho man who killed Hunt. Brooks was in a hold close by, an eager witness of tho proceedings. Ho had a hand in the plot *, know from tho very first Hunt wus to be killed for his mouey ; was to recoivo part of tho proceeds for his trouble and in ono sense is us guilty as tho actual mur derer. Tho story reads more liko somo wild detective story than a chapter from real life. Tho two mon led tho mer chant out into tho country by a river, knocked him in tho head with a rock, then pounded his bruins out with a gun : looted his pockets, cut his dead body open with un ax, sank him to tho bottom of the river with rocks, divided tho spoils and loft; prompted by tho vain hope thoir guilt would nover find them out. But suspicion pointed their way. Thoy wero arrested and thrown into prison. Ono Hod to South Carolina. Tho $1,100 thoy took from tho dead tnerchaut's pocket has been recovered, tho greater part of which was buried near tho sceno of tho murder. Tho murderers themselves told where the money could bo found?in fact Rey nolds, under heavy guard Wednesday afternoon, fouud it himself by tho sido of an oak treo wbicli had boon a silent witness to this most unparalleled tragedy. But tho story is best told in Reynolds' own words, as ho bat trembling in ono corner of his cell last night and re luted It to a Constitution man. " Brooks and I were tho perpetra tors of the plot," said ho. '* Wo made it up to kill Hunt for his money. I wus perhaps tho start of tho affair, and Brooks was to help mo carry It out for asharoof tho doad man's booty. " Hunt was tho proprietor of a store at Bolton. It was agreed that I should buy him out; offer him $1,(100 for his stock outi ight; tako possession ; havo Hunt sign the receipts for my pay ments; outlco him to tho hank of iho rivor; kill him, and tike, his money, which I know ho always carried in largo sums on his person. Wo thought tho public would novor know what became of him ; that no ono would know but that I had paid him for his storo and that ho had skipped tho country. I was to tako ohargo of tho establishment aftor his death, and run It for all it was worth, aided by tho money wo would tako from Hunt's deud body. That was tho plot we at tempted to carry through?which wo did carry through and which has justly caught us in tho grip of tho law. " By tho 15th of February) which was Monday, I had perfected arrange ments with Hunt for tho purchaso of his store. I wus engagod at tho time making rails twenty miles below Bol ton, near Harmony Grovo. It was agreed that Hunt and 1 should drive thero in a buggy, where 1 was to pay him tho in.y. l,So just beforo noon that day wo started for tho scone of his death. Ilo sat on tho right hand sido of the buggy, and I on tho loft. Wo talked cheer fully, but I had raurdor In my heart all tho while, and know full well that I would kill him whon wo arrived at the rl"or, and that Brooks would bo therj to help mo. "I guess it was about 4 o'clock in tho afternoon whon wo passed through Harmony Grovo and drove over the long bridgo three miles below, near tho homo of a farmer, where wo stopped and hltohcd up our horse In tho stablo. This was whore I worked and l was familiar with tho premises. "Shortly afterwards I suggested to Hunt that wo go bird hunting bofore supper. Uo agreed, and I gave him my shotgun. Ho also carried a pistol In his hip pockot. Wo walked through tho holds, killing several birds, until wo oamo close to tho rivor near a little clump of trees. " Hunt was walking in front of mo. I know that was my beat chanco and, picking up a largo rock, I struck him with all my powor on tho baek of the head. Ho foil to tho ground with a groan and I grabbed his gun and struck him aovoral times across the hoad with tho butt. He nevor spoke and died in porhaps three minutes. " Knowing Brooks was on top of tho hill, I then loft tho body as soon as I was suro ho was doad and wont to whoro Brooke was. Ho thon returnod wltn mo, and wo wont through tho doad man's pockets. He had about $1,100 in cash in his pookots, *.'!?><? of which was in gold. Wo thon know we must got rid of the body in somo way and deoldod to put It in tho rivor- So wo out him open with an o,x to koop tho body from floating aud, placing seme heavy rooks over him, sank him to tho bottom of the rivor, whore tho water was about four feet deep. " Brooks and I then went baok to the farmhouse and, tolling tbo lady Hunt was out shooting and might not return, hitched up the buggy and drove on down tbo road. About three miles beyond tbo scene of tbo murder wo divided the money?I keeping the gold and giving Brooks about half tho greenbacks, which amounted to about $300. I afterwards bid my part noar tho scene of tho killing. " Neither of us tbon skipped. I went straight to Belton and took cbargo of Hunt's store. I told people I bad bought It aud knew nothing of his wberoubouts; hut peoplo got suspicious. They Bearcbod the sur rounding countryfor him, but could not find him. Sevoral witnesses stated they had seen us togotbur tbat day In tho buggy, driving toward Harmony Grovo. Evidence began to accumulato against mo and I know thoro was no hope. "Wednesday of tbo next week one of tho deputy BhoritTs cutuo after mo, and stated ho wanted to arrest mo for tho murder of Hunt. Wo woro all alone, and I could havo easily killed him with my pistol if I bad wished ; but somehow or ooher I didn't want to. I don't holiovo I would have gono any whore if I had had the chanco. My conscionco was hurting me dreadfully, und I just determined to face my punishment. "Tho next day I confessed Brooks and I had killed Hunt, aud told where his body could bo found. Thoy then went and pulled it out of tho river and found about$380 of tho monoy in green backs I bad hidden under a pilo of rocks noar the scene of tho killing. " They then threatened to kill mo. I told th'-ui to kill and ho damned If they wanted to. I really didn't caro whether I died or not, and I was not afraid of tbom. Thoy locked mo in tho ciilabooso there, aDd started to hunt Brooks, who had pone with his money to bis homo in Oakway, S. C., about forty miles away. '" As soon as Brooks found out. thoy wero after him, too, ho gavo up and surrendered tho money. They brought him back to JetTerson and put him in jail with mo. " Lust night tho sheritT wanted to know where tho rest of tho money was. I told him it was hiddon near tho river and that 1 thought I could locate it; so I was chained and escorted to the scene of tho murder, where it did not take me long to lind the gold near a little oak tree, whoro I had buried it. " The sheriff was afraid I might ho lynched to-day, so tho judge sent us hero, where l suppose wo will remain until tho trial. 1 am glad of tho trans fer, because wo will havo much moro convenience bore, and then I am famil iar with Fulton's jail, for Brooks and l havo been locked in hero several times before for making illicit whis key. "Why did I kill Hunt? Woll, It was just tbo devil in me, I suppose. That is the onty way I can account for it. God knows I regret it now, and would make any sacriiica if it could he blotted out. 1 havo been a wicked man most of my life, and havo nover had a correct sense of right and wrong. I suppose this is partly the cause." During all this conversation Brooks sat an eager listener. lie acquiesced in everything his partner in crime had said, offering no corrections or denials. It has been rumored that Brooks claimed ho was forced to aid in putting tho body in the river at tho point of Reynolds' pistol. If such was tho ca?o be said nothing about it last night. Ho acknowledged he wus a partner to the tragedy for the booty he could get out of it. LONGBST HUN IN THE WORLD. A Cornwall Express Train Goes from London to Exeter Without Stop pln? New York Herald. The longest regular daily run made without a stop by any railway train in the world has just been placed on the schedule of the Great Western railway of England. It is made between l'addingtou sta tion in London, and Exeter, a distance of 101 miles in three hours and thirty six minutes, by what is known as tho Cornwall express. It Is remarkable not so much owing to tlio time, as for the fact, tbat not a stop is made from one end of the line to the other. There have been longer runs made without a stop, but they have ''teu made by sneclal and not regular trains. Tho .average speed attained by tho Corn wall express when making this run is 51.7 miles an hour, although owing to a peculiar construction of the r..ad at Bristol, 118 miles from London, the train is obliged to slow down to a spoed Of ten miles an hour. This express train is composed of six long oacbes, a tendor and engine. An American would cull it a vestibule train, but the English prefer to call tho cars " boglo clorestoried corridor coaches," bogie being a term applied to the trucks. They are fully us heavy as an ordinary drawing room car, eacli one weighing about forty-sovon thou sand pounds, while the train without tho ongino nnd tender is eighty-one tons, making a total weight of tiio train us it rushes along on its long run two hundred and tweniy-ono tons. During tho run it is necessary to take water for the engine! twice. This, however, does not necessitate any stop, as it is taken up from a trench beside tho track as the train speeds along at nearly a mile a minute. The engine which draws this essen tially "through train" is a curious looking ponderous affair, quite unlike any locomotive seen on American roads, ft has on cither side a single huge driving wheel, seven feet eight inches in diameter, while what must by com parison bo called tho small wheels of the engine, six in number known as trailers, uro four feet six inches in dia meter. The wate" tank of the ongino holds 30,000 gallons, and when running at full speed thero is a steam pressure of 100 pounds to the tquaro inch, whilo thero ts a heating surface of 1,661 t quarc foot. Each day tho run Is made, tho train leaving Puddington station ut 10:26 o'clock in tho morning, and it nover fails to roll into St. David's station, in Exetor, oxactly on time. Tho time! allowed by tho schedule for this run makes no allowance for delays of any kind. Even tho timo lost in going over the loop around Bristol und tho neces sity of slowing down whon going through Butb is not allowed for. ?Mrs. Nanson, wife of tbo famous Arctic oxploror, is tho owner of a re ?aarkablo carrier pigeon, which, after being away from Its homo for nearly two years, winged Its way back over a thousand miles of frozen waste and yot another thousand of ocean and frost and plain. Under Its shining white wing it brought a noto from Nan sen, telling his wife tnat he was woll and that tbo expedition was doing finely. IirVTKSr NEWS SUMMARY. ? Since the death of Mr. McCullagh. tho editor of the Olobe-Domoorat of St. 1 .oiiis, it ha<> been discovered that ho was an extensive owner of silver mine stock, although he was ono of the 8tlffest gold men in the United States. ?William Kilpatrlck, the oldest man In Georgia, died at the home of his son in Cartersvlllo on tho 10th lost. Mr. Kilpatrlck was 108 years old. His death was not uuexpeoted, as he had boon sick for some days. ?Senator Harris, of Tonnesseo, was another Confederate who visited Maximilian In Mexico at tbo tlmo Gen. Joe Shelby was in that country. The senator's exourslon was duo to the ex pressed wish of Parson Brownlow to see him hanged, but the parson thought bettor of it afterward. ?Prince Bismarck has been latoly In poor health and is now suffering from chronic neuralgia, which deprives him of the power of speech and ren ders it impossible for him to sloop. Tho ox-chaucollor dreads the cele bration of tho eighty-second anniver sary of bis birth on April 1st. ?Senator B. R. Tillmau, of South Carolina, In an Interview at Charlotte tho other day, said to a reporter : " I see you aro all in a devil of a muddle here about railroad matters. Well, you may expect Judgo Simonton to give tho Southern anything thoy want, for thoy own him body and soul." ?Newberry's commissioners of pub lic works havo awarded contructs for electric lights aud waterworks. The General Electric Light Company, of Atlanta, will put in tho former for $8,200 and Howard Ncoloy, of Chat tanooga, will furnish tho waterworks system for $32,321. Nowberry has bond ed herself in $42,00. ?Tho Columbia Registor says: "Clerk Harris is busily cngagod in sending out commissions to tho nowiy appointed constables, but as yet 'heir names bavo not been given tr tho public. It is learned that Ohle' ?ahr, according to present arrar n'.nts, will have eightoon men, Chief Fant twonty-four, muking orty-two altogether. Formerly there wore sixty-five. A numbor of tho uppointecs aro now men, but preference generally was givon to those already on tho force." ?Hon. Wm. Jennings Bryan was in Nashville, Tenn., on the 10th iust., and delivered an address under the auspices of tho woman's board of tho Centonniul Exposition. A dispatch says : "A berics of elaborate social functions occupied his time from noon until night. At 8 o'clock ho addressed 5,000 people in tho tahcrnaclo. Tho proceeds wero devoted to tho woman's building. Tomorrow he will ho a guest of the Tennessee Legislature and will address that body at 10 o'clock In tbo morning. Ho will also bo the recipient of additional social honors." ?Consul Fltzhugh Leo denies that Mr. John Sherman, secrotary of state, has requested him to remain at his post in Havana as a personal favor to President McKinley. Tho Havana cor respondent of the Associated Press "has authority for saying that General Fltzhugh Lee has not received such a message. The correspondent furthor understands that tho Gcucral did not request to come here, but was sent here. Finally, tho correspondent un derstands that General Lee has not made an application to remain and that he will not do so." ?When court met in Sura tor a few days ago Judgo Klugb charged tho grand jury to exhaust every means to bring the lynchers of Simou Coopor, the murderer of half a dozen people, to justice. Tho juiy makes the report that it is useless to attempt to get evi dence against the lynohers. As a stand oil' to this Isaac Baylc and Jim Me Lcod, negroes charged with being ac cessories to tho murders committed by Cooper, have been acquitted, but tbo latter, who runs a farm and restaurant, has been notified to leuve the State and is selling out preparatory to'doing so. ?A young man answering to tho description of James Jones, a refugoo from Texas, is being detained In Anderson by Chief of Police Dilling ham, who is awaiting instructions from the authorities in Hamilton County, Tex., who want him for tho murder, on December 8, 1893, of Deputy sheriff Thomas Eaton. Tho namo givon by the man under arrest is Will Jones. He answers in every way the descrip tion givon of tho man wanted and bears an exact resemblance to the accom panying photographic cut. Tho re ward olfered is $1,300. The prisoner volunteers the information that he is wanted in Walker County, Ga., for as sault aud battery. ?A dispatch from JeiTerson, Ga., to the Atlanta Journal, says that Grady Reynolds and Dud Brooks, who murdered KS. C. Uunt-lR lt?at i.i,i."*.V on the 15th of February, tlSTvO boon sent to tho Fulton county jail in tho custody of Sheriff Braselton for safe keeping, by order of Judgo N. L. Hutchins. On account of tho great feeling aroused by tho crimo and tbo very general indignation which has been manifested, it was thought advisable to remove tho prisoners away from the scone of tho murder. Fow threats of lynching havo been beard and it bus not boon thought thoro was any danger of mob violence, but It '.?.a deemed best to guurd against every emergency. ?Tho latest sensational news from Cuba is given by the war correspondent of the Chicago Rooord In a letter from Havana, dated llthiust., in which he declares that General Wcylor has re ceived positive orders from Madrid to end tho Cuban war at once, ovou by going te the extent of selling tho island to' tho insurgents, if need be, to ac complish that object. General Woyler has set out. for Villa Clara to lind Gen oral Gomez to undertake negotiations Weyler lias said tbo war will en ! within three weeks. General Woylor orders are, it is claimed, to secure peace at any terms, and he Is instructed to offer Gomez bribes, autonomy or tbo island itself. Fear as to 1'resident Mc Kiuloy's position Is given as a leading cause for the Spanish change of policy. ?Tho State board of control has decided upon a new plan as to the in surance of tho various county dispen saries. Heretofore all of tho dispen sary insurance has been placed in Columbia. Tho new plan dcoldod upon is that all insurance, bo placod by tho local dispensaries in reputable in surance companies. When tho local dispensos decide upon tho amount and the agencies they aro to report to tho State board of control, and before insurance is placed it is to bo approved by tho State hoard. This plan ought to work very satisfactorily, and tho idea of distributing the insurance among tho agents of tbo towns whoro disponsarlcs aro located will, no deubt, be welcome to tbo local agencies, where companios wrlto this class of risks. The scaro about dlsponsary risks scorns to have pretty woll dlod out.