The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, May 13, 1897, Image 2
t T .
r y
THE COUNTY RECORD !
KLNGSTHEE, S. C. j
_ ________ - |
LUL IS J. BRISTOW, Kd. A Prop'r. j
i - .?%n 1 I
GOOD ROADS.
Why Not Give This Important Matter
Full Consideration at the Next Session
of the Legislature?
A recent issue of the National Advo cate,
a journal devoted to agricultural
interests, contains a paper on "The Relation
of Good Roads to Rural Life"
that is very timely. Apart from the im?oAnoulflrttfinna
nf Mimmflrfiial
v. ~
and industrial welfare, a national and
State system of good roads is imperatively
needed to build up country communities,
for the country is the store
house from which the nation draws its
strength.
Good roads also means the drawing
nearer of neighbors to one another in
, the enjoyment of social pleasures, and
at no distant day the establishment of a
rural mail delivery which, in itself,
trould do much for the country, besides
indirectly helping to check the alarming
tendency towards emigration to the
cities?one of the most disquieting features
of the social condition of the day.
Speaking of this, the National Advocate
says:
"First, and as the necessity without
which nothing can be done, we must
have good roads?roads over which vehicle
or bicycle may glide rapidly and
smoothly, and even now, with such
roads, with good horses, or the swift
" - " a a a < *1? _ _ _ |
bicycle, are nemnoors ana iamuies m
the country, ki closely settled commu- j
nities, practically brought as near to- ;
gether for all social intercourse and en- 1
joynoent and advantages of education
a8 residents of a city. Small holdings,
well tilled, bringing thickly populated
rural communities will support, in near
by towns, good schools, churches, public
libraries, gymnasiums, halls for musical
and theatrical entertainments, and'
social enjoyments of all kinds, and all
. . within easy reach of the entire commu- j
nity. Under these conditions nothing !
which the city has to offer may not be '
had in the village, and within the reach
of the means of every thrifty farmer."
The Columbia Register, diverging a
little from this phase of the subject,
says it may be well to consider the
practicability of establishing a road
system in South Carolina that shall
meet all requirements, and yet relieve
the hard-worked farmer of a burden
1 1 ? 1 AihAimMt?A foil rrsncf Kaovtlr
U2UL WOU1U UtUOi " wo tan UAV/ot uvauij I
on him were legislative action taken in
the matter.
At the very season when the making
of good roads is a task that can best be
peiformed, the average farmer is busiest
on his farm, and to ask him at
t nch times to work out his road tax
lu^ans to ask him to neglect his crops.
I Besides, to insure good roads?roads
that will wear and last?it is necessary
to do more than a ilttle scraping and
I plowing now and then. Good roads,
mean grading, draining ond macadamizing,
and this it is impracticable to
ask the fanner to perform.
It is jnst here that the advantage of
convict labor becomes evident The
inmates of the penitentiary have no
other dutieB but those at which they
mav be set and their labor is available
; at all seasons of the year. Why, then,
to accomplish a work of such vast lravrot&noA
to the State should not the
muscle and brawn of the convicts be
brought into play? In no other way
could these men be employed so usefully,
and in no other way could these
unfortunates so well receive the benefit
of wholesome, invigorating exercise.
Boadbuilding is, after all, the best
solution of the problem how to make
the State convicts pay for their maintenance,
and at the same time odntribnte
something to the welfare ,oi the
community whose privileges they have
abused. South Carolina sorely needs
good roads, and the effect of them on
the value of agricultural lands and
upon the moral well-being of the State
p, * can bardly be overestimated.
Why not give this important scatter
full consideration at the next session of
the Legislature? It would be better
' for the taxpayers of the State, the oonvicts,
and society at large if we should
employ the penitentiary population to
build and repair public roads instead of
keeping them employed at tasks, the
product of which competes with free
labor, and results in no abiding good to
use coiiuuiiiinj.
A BIG DISPENSARY SUIT.
W. A. Vandercook Brings an Injunction
Salt Against the South Carolina
Dispensary Officers.
A suit has been begun iu Charleston
in the United States circuit court which
may result seriously for the dispensary
law of South Carolina. The suit is
brought by W. A Vandercook & Co.,
of California, against Dispensary Commissioner
Vance, a number of State
liquor constables and all constab'es or
State officials acting under the dispensary
law. A perpetual injunction against
them is asked by the company, j inhibiting
them from interfering* with the
business of the company which may be
transacted with any ancj all individuals of
South Carolina who may be its patrons.
The bill of complaint hied is the result
of a recent seizure of a carload of wine
shipped by Vandercook & Co. to Mr.
J. C. Simonds, of the above citv. Mr.
Simonds is the cashier of the First
National Bank of Charleston, and while
all of the liquor was consigned to him,
the real persons for whom it is intended
were a score or more of private
oitizens. These persons were to receive
orders from Mr. Simonds for their
respective share of the car-load of wine,
depositing at the same time in the bank
the purchase monev, subject to the order
of Vandercook & Co. Shortly after
the arrival of the liquor it was seized
by the constables and sent to Columbia.
The bill filed cites all the facts in the
case aau aska for $3,000 damages.
Judge Simonton has appointed May
l?th as the day for hearing argument
on the case.
Assistant Attorney General Townsend
is now hard at work preparing the answer
of the State to the complaint in
the Yandecook case in the United
States Court, which is a proceeding to
secure a perpetual injunction against
the State interfering with any liquors
shipped into the State from another
State in the original packages. It is
by long odds the most important case
against the dispensary law that the
State has ever had to fight.
f mini lit
Col. Gaston and Mr. Scruggs Give
a Bond of $400 Each.
THUS ENDS THE SCANDAL,
For the Time, at Least?The Affidavits
Attached to the Warrants Specify
the Instances.
j As will be seen, by reference to
another column, Messrs. Gaston and
Scruggs were arrested Friday, but at
i that time the affidavits could
not be given in the case, so
the following from the Columbia
I Register of the 8th exDlains itself in
the matter of the Beokroge trunk scandal:
The warrants against Colon'el Gaston
and Mr. Scruggs were sworn out yesterday
morning before Magistrate
Smith by Mr. L. J. WUliam3. Both
are charged with official misconduct under
the common law.
The warrants were put in the hands
of Constable Hartin to serve, but before
he could do so Colonel Gaston appeal ed
at Judge Smith's office and was admitted
to bail in the sum fof $400. Major
B. B. Evans and Gen. John Gary Watts
signed the bond. There wa* no preliminary
hearing. Colonel Gaston had gone
to the office early in the morning expecting
the wan ant to be there, but it
was not, and he waited.
About 5 o'clock in the afternoon
Mr. Scruggs came in and was released
on a bond of $400, signed by James E.
Pavne and W. G. Scruggs, of Greenville.
The warrant in the case of Mr.
s*?TTi?rtrR rtharces that "on or about the
I firstllay of ifarch, 1897, one Seth W. I
Scruggs did commit official misconduct
by taking and carrying away from the
contraband room in the State Dispensary
four boxes of cigars and four canr
of peaches and other articles, the property
of the State, while engaged in the
discharge of his duties as clerk and
bookkeeper of the State Board of Control
in said State Dispensary, with intent
to defraud the State of South Carolina,
as fully set forth in the affidavit
hereto attached."
The affidavit was made before Magistrate
Smith by Mr. L. J. Williams, and
is as follows: (
Personally appeared before me L. J.
Williams, who. after being duly sworn,
says: That he is a member of the State
Board of Control; that Seth W. Scruggs
of the oounty and State aforesaid, was
duly eleoted clerk of the State Board of
Control on the day of April, 1896,
and at that time entered upon the dunf
uin office and continued in the
discharge of the same until the 7th day
of May, 1897, when his successor was
duly elected; that during the time he
was clerk of the said board, his duties
were defined and prescribed bv said
board, which were to act as bookkeeper
of saia board, to hare the custody and
ooutrol of the books and all papers in
the control of the said board, to keep
the minutes of the board and to discharge
all other duties appertaining to
clerk of the Board.
That he is informed by a number of
Krsons who have made affidavits, and
lieves that Seth W. Scruggs, while
so acting as bookkeeper and clerk of
the said Board of Control did, on or
about the first of March A. D. 1897,
procure a key for a room in the State
Dispensary, in which all liquors and
other property seized and forfeited to
the State are kept, and which was in
keeping and control of the State Commissioner,
but under the general control
of the Board, and with the said key
did enter the said room, without the
knowledge or consent of the State Commissioner
and the State Board of Control.
and take therefrom and carrv
away four boxes of cigars and four cans
of peaches, property of the State of
| South Carolina, which had been forfeited
to it, of the value of $4, and did appropriate
the same to his own use, with
intent thereby to defraud the State and
damage the public and in grave violation
of his said duties as clerk and
bookkeeper.
That he is informed by the persons
who made affidavits as aforesaid that
the said Seth W. Scruggs, while acting
as such bookkeeper and clerk of the
Board of Control as aforesaid, did, on
divers occasions, between the day
of April, 1896, and the 7th day of May,
1897, enter the said contraband room
with a key then in his possession, other
than the one in the possession of the
State Commissioner, claiming that the
said key was one provided for the use
of the State Board of Control, when, in
fact, so far as he knows, the board had
no such key, and had not authorized him
to provide such a key for the said board,
and that with such false key the said
Seth W. Suggs did open and enter the
contraband room aforesaid and did take
therefrom one box of cigars and four
cans of peaches of the value of $4, the
property of the State of South Carolina,
with the intent to defraud the State of
South Carolina, by appropriating the
said articles to his own UBe, in gross
violation of his duties as such clerk and
bookkeeper to the damage of the public
and to the evil example of all others in
like cases offending.
That is he informed by the persons
aforesaid that Seth W. Scruggs, while
acting as such clerk and bookkeeper
i v .1 x; -:J U-i
ana uoiumg stuu uuiw, ubi? ecu iu?
day of April A- D. 1896, and the
8th day of May 1897, on divers occasions
procured a key and entered the
said contraband room, which was under
control of the Commissioner, subject to
the general control of the State Board, |
and did take and carry away therefrom
cigars and other articles of personal
property of the value of f200, the property
of the State of South COrolina with
intent to defraud the State, by appropriating
them to his own use, and to the
damage and injury of the public and by
such acts was guilty of gross official
misconduct; that all the acts herein
charged were committed in Richland
county in the State of South Carolina.
That Charles J. Lynch, M. H. Mobley,
C. H. Charles, Robert E. Blakeley,
S. W. Tance, W. W. Harris, C. A.
Koon, H. E. Watts, L. J. Williams, S.
H. Douthit and D. M. Miles are material
witness to prove said charges.
L. J. Williams.
the gaston w am ant.
The warrant against Colonel Gaston
alleges that "on or about the first day
of March, 1897, one John T. Gaston did
commit official misconduct by taking
and carrying away from the contraband
room in the State Dispensary one pair
of shoes, part box of cigars and other
articles, the property of the State, while
acting as State Commissioner, and in
the charge of said room, and while in |
the discharge of the duties of said office,
with the intent to defrand the State of
South Carolina, as fnlly set forth in the
affidavit hereto attached."
This affidavit is also made by Mr.
Williams before magistrate Smith, and
alleges:
That John T. Gaston was required by
the State Board of Control to act as
6tate Commissioner in the State Dispensary,
between the 25th day of
; October, A. D. 1896, and the 15th 'day
1 of April, A. D. 1897, in the place of F.
M. Mixon, who had resigned.
That on information and belief
he says that during the time he
was acting as state uomuiiaaiuuer,
under the authority and dij
rection of the State Board of Control,
the said John T. Gaston, who was,
as such Commissioner, in charge of the
room in the State dispensary in which
were placed for safe keeping all the
liquors ami other personal property
seized by the State Constables and forfeited
to the State, or in process of forfeiture,
did, on or about the first day
of March, A. D. 1897, take and carry
away from the said room one pair ot
shoes and part of a box of cigars, the
property of the Sta te of South Carolina,
and entrusted to his care and custody,
of the value of 31- 25, with the intent to
defraud the State aforesaid, and to appropriate
the said property to his own
use, which was in gross violation of his
duty as acting State Commissioners, to
take care of the said articles, which had
been entrusted to his keeping by law, |
to the great damage of the State of j
South Carolina.
That on information and belief he
farther says that the said John T. Gaston,
while discharging the duties of
State Commissioner, bydireotionof the
State Board of Control, and while in
charge of the said contraband room
aforesaid, did, on divers occasions, between
the 25th day of October, A. D.
1896, and the 15th day of April, A. D.
1897, take from the said room shoes,
cigars, coffee and other articles of personal
property belonging to the State of
South Carolina, of the value of $50, with
intent to defraud the State and to appropriate
the said articles to his own
use, which was in gross violation of his
duty as acting State Commissioner, to
take care of said articles, which had
been entrusted to his keeping by law,
to the great damage of the State of
South Carolina.
That all these acts were done in Richland
county, in the State of South
Carolina.
ThatS.W. Vance, Wilie Jones, H. E.
Watts, L. J. Williams and 0. A. Koon
are material witnesses to prove said
charges. L. J. Williams.
tLota Vim Hapti much discussion as to
what charge should be brought against
the two men. Official misconduct under
the common law was finally agreed
upon. The punishment in such cases
rests with the discretion of the judge.
It evidently was the intention to bring
them if possible before the Court of Sessions,
for should larceny have been
charged, it would have amounted to
only a nominal fine by a Trial Justice.
It was a knotty point all round to decide
what charge to make, for it
sometimes happens that crime may be
committed against which there is no
statutory prohibition. Mr. Scruggs,
for instance couldn't be charged with
housebreaking nor with burglary.
Neither could he be charged with official
misconduct under the statute because
that only applies to oounty officials.
It is even doubtful whether in
the higher court the charge will stand,
but then it's no use to cross a bridge till
you oome to it, and the court will have
to decide the question.
Gaston says he will not bother so engage
counsel, and Attorney-General
I u?k? nana tha ?au will ha nnnhnd to
JL/Ckl l/wi wj O UiV vwwv vv r- " I
the end. The next term of the court
for Richland county meets in J one.
CHEERFUL PROSPECTS
For Port Royal?expansion of Government
Interests Expected.
The desire on the part of the government
to acquire additional territory adjacent
to the naval station in this harbor
is a self-evident fact that extensive
additions *ill be made to the magnificent
plant now owned and operated by
the navy department here. The final
issue, to our way of thinking, will be
the completion of an extensive and perfectly
appointed navy yard commensurate
with the present and future needs of
the government. When it must be remembered
that the large vessels of the
navy are new or very recently constructed,
and mav stand in little need of
present overhauling and repair, that in
a few years they will all, more or less,
stand in need of repairs of some
kind, and hence a large and commodious
dry dock and its adjuncts
of a complete machine and repair
6hop, and also a well appointed
navy yard, snch as will be afforded
here will be in demand, and the department,
knowing this, is setting its
house in order in good time. The wisdom
of the government in choosing this
site in our harbor for a public work of
this character is recognized more and
more by those in authority in Washington.
Possessing, as we ao, a most dei*
..J l la.1./-I
UgUUUl ttuu ueaiuuui viuuuie, uccj>
water approaches and close communication
by rail and steam with every
part of the world, we might say, we are
positive in the justness of our assertion
that no better place could have been
found on the South Atlantic coast for
the stupendous works that will finally
occupy the governmet reservation ou
Paris Island in Port Royal harbor, a
harbor second to none in the world.
In the acquisition to the territory now
desired by the government will have
nearly, if" not quite, a mile of water
frontage in cur harbor, which, with
some little dredging inshore at po nts,
will be acceptable anchorage for any
vessel in the navy.?Port Royal Palmetto
Post
Lady in pony cart (who has made
several unsueccessful attempts to pass
persevering beginner occupying the
whole road)?Unless you soon fall off,
sir, I'm afraid I shall miss my train.?
Punch.
It's a wise woman that knows enough
not to say anything the next morning
when her husband has a wet towel
around bis head. -jy
? '? "f<"j s .
"v -"? .. . ;;j:-?. > 7
IPtMllSIIIlS
The Sinking Fund Money Can Be
Loaned to the Counties.
NO BANK EXAMINER FOR A YEAR
A Big Dispensary Suit?A Six-Foot
Mule?Stole His Own Cow?Other
Palmetto Chips.
L. J. Williams, a member of the
State Board of Control, has sworn out
warrants against 8. W. Scruggs, chief
clerk of the dispensary, and Col. John
T. Gaston, ex-commissioner of the dispensary.
This is the result of investigations
by the Attorney General, the
testimony showing that Scruggs had
taken from a trunk which was seized
by constables four boxes of cigars and
several cans of peaches. The trunk
was the property of Wm. Beckroge, of
Savannah, Ga., who went to Charleston
about.a month ago to get married,
and carried a trunk full of wine and
whiskey, cigars, canned peaches, oranges,
eto. United States Judge Simonton
declared the seizure illegal,
and when Beckroge demanded his trunk
and contents they were gone. The ti|ink
was sold to Legislator Garris, but the
board decided that that was a perfectly
legitimate transaction, but could not
stand the idea of employes appropriating
the cigars and things to their own
use. Gaston got a few cigars, some oranges
and a pair of shoes out of the
trunk, but after the whole matter was
ventilated he paid for them. The warrants
were served last Friday. Scruggs
was decapitated as chief clerk and W.
H. Lawrence, of Darlington, an expert
book-keeper, was appointed in his
fjiaco.
A negro named Jake Jeter was taken
before Magistrate Clarkson in Columbia
on the charge of stealing a cow from
his mother and step-father, who live in
the country near the city. At the hearing
it waft developed that Jake left Columbia
last January, goipg to Savannah.
Ga. He did not go ont to his
mother's until several days after his arrival;
when he did he took the
cow, that was in the stable,
'? the city and endeavored to sell
her. Before he could dispose of her,
his step-father had notified the polioe
and Jake was arrested. The cow was
taken to the station. While the trial
was in progress, the State says, it was
brought out that the prisoner owned
the cow himself, whereupon the case
came to a sudden termination, the prisoner
being discharged. He owned to
having mortgaged the cow to another
nartv. hut he did not sell her.
The attorney general has recently
given the State sinking fond commission
another opinion as to the length of
time for which loans to counties can be
made by the board. He had previously
held that no loans could be made for a
longer or shorter term than one year.
According to this later decision, loans
are permitted for shorter terms than
one year; that a careful consideration
of the act made it apparent that the
term for one year meant not exceeding
one year, since as the loans are made
in March and must te repaid out of the
first taxes collected in November, a
loan cannot really be made for a whole
year. This will be gratifying news to
many of the counties.
The State Bank Board met in the
Governor's office last week and adopted
the following, which crushes the hopes
of many applicants for the place in
question:
Whereas, there was a defect in the
act of 1896 providing for the election of
a State bank examiner, in consequence
of which no election was held, and
Whereas, the General Assemby of 180V
did not amend the act or supply tte ae- i
feet although cognnant thereof, ihere- f
fore be it
Resolved by this board, that nc elec-!
tion be now had and that the matter be
formally called to the attention of the
next General Assembly.
The Colombia State says a country
negTo drove into that city a peculiar
mnle attached to a.n ordinary wagon
lost w eek. The mnle, which was an
ordinary looking animal, had six well
developed feet, four of which vore attached
to the animal's two front legs.
Two of the feet the mnle used as if
nothing were wrong, the othar two
were merely ornaments. The ignorant
negro who owned him said that he was
six years old?too old to take off ihe extra
feet He did not seem to realize
that his mnle in a dime miwia or a
side show would quickly put him above
the necesssity of hauling and selling
wood.
While Bntler Turner, colered, was at
work in the excavation for the foundation
of the ice factory at Pelzer, which
was about 20 feet deep, the embankment
caved in on him to tb? depth of
eight or ten feet, burying him alive.
His lifeless body was unearthed and removed
as soon as possible, but uo power
on earth could have saved hiri, as it
is supposed that death resulted i nstantly.
Turner was about 23 years old and
lived in Williamston.
a onwioi frt Th? from Black
ville, Barnville county, of Mav 6, says:
A very distinct earthquake shock was
felt here at 6:45 this evening accompanied
by a very loud noise resembling
that of heavy thunder. The
shock was felt at Elko, Willis ton and
Wagner.
The executive committee of the State
Fair met in Columbia last week and revised
the premium list There was a
full attendance of the committee with
the exception of President Chilis and
Secretary Holloway, who was detained
by sickness. The list was gone over
and in many of the departments the
premiums were increased in number
and value. None were reduoed. The
list was turned over to the printer,
and by June will be ready for xistribatiom
.
m
A TALK WITH McLAURIN.
How Fie Came to Make HIa Two Fa|
moan Speeches on the Tarlfl Question.
"B. M. L.," in a special dispatch
from Washington to the News and
Conner, under date of the 6th, says
Representative McLaurin's position on
the tariff question has given him a
prominence throughout the oountry
which even his political enemies at
home are bound to reoofrnize. Notwithstanding
the attempts made by
certain persons to belittle his recent
tariff speeches, be has a growing following
in South Carolina whioh would
astonish his politioal rivals, who are
eaten up with jealousy because of his
rapid advancement in national as well
af. in State politics. I saw a letter
from an ex-member of Congress from
T9xas, which stated that a Vice Presidential
boom for Mr. McLaurin is
u:ader way in the Lone Star State. I
would not be surprised to see him run
for Governor of South Carolina next
vear. There is a strong pressure upon
ntrn fn matrA +V>A rar>a
When I called upon Mr. McLaurin at
his residence last evening I found him
in a particularly happy frame of mind,
looking over a pile of letters that
had accumulated during his absence.
"My mail," said he, "has nearly
quadrupled since my two lost speeches.
The first seems to have struck a responsive
chord throughout the South, while
the last has led to a vast amount of apparently
anxious inquiries concerning
the conditions and advantages of our
section."
In answer to an inquiry Mr. MoLaurin
said his position on the ways
and means committee was the prime
cause for making the first speech.
"I would sit there," said he, "day
after day listening to individuals and
delegations demanding recognition
through national legislation, and not
hear a single solitary mention of the
great industries of the South. Finally
one man came before us in the interests
of long staple cotton, but failed to make
much, of an impression, since he found
Southern members opposed to sucn
a demand. I began to get letters
from different sections of the South calling
my attention to the rioe schedules.
Parties interested in cotton seed oil
productions wrote me concerning tallow
being on the free list, which would
tend to cheapen oil, and thereby cheapen
the price of cotton seed to the planter.
Men engaged in making cotton began
to write asking if it would not be
fair to demand a duty on ootton, at the
same time reminding me that there was
a heavy duty on cotton cloth. The injustice
of sitting idly by and permitting
the North and East to obtain all the aavantages
of such legislation, and at the
same time realize that my own section
and people were being plundered
through its operation.
"As I continued the preparation of
that speech I became more and more
impressed that the interests of the
Soutli had been neglected, and more
firmly determined to make a demand
for lair and equitable division of benefits
and responsibilities. I am not a
Protectionist, and rejected that statement
many tunes in the course of my
speech, but if that doctrine was to obtain
in this country I simply demanded
as a matter of right and justio? that the
South should not be the victim. The
Eress of the South, with rare exceptions,
ave accepted my contention as fair and
just, and I look for substantial assistance
from Southern members in making
a contest, not only for long staple
cotton, but for a square recognition of :
all Southern interests in the final status
of the tariff bill. i
"Here are hundreds of clippings,"
said Mr. McLaurin, showing a file case
filled with them, "taken from papers in
the South endorsing my position and
enco uraging me to further action. These !
letters also," pointing to a large number,
"are from prominent men, not <
only in the South, but in other sections, j
declaring my position correct, and urg- 1
ing me to continue the fight In order i
to round out my first speech and show
the true situation I made the last one.
Some papers have called it an immigration
speech and an advertisement for '
the South. I don't care anything about
that since mv purpose was accomplished
when 1 attracted the attention
of the balance of the country to our section.
4 'I assumed that suoh increased in- '
bereft and inquiry regarding our sec- '
tion would assist materially in securing '
fair play, and I find it has. This speech
has been printed in full in many lead- J
ing pa mere, and liberal extracts have !
found their way into thousands of news- '1
papers throughout the entire nation. 1
The Nevr York Financier, the Boston
Journal <>f Commerce, the Chicago Record
and numerous journals of this
character have printed much of the
speech, ami commented editorially uppon
it. The Southern Railroad Company
has printed a large Dortion of it
and sent otit thousands to its correspondents
aild inserted it in thousands
of papers interested in our section. I
make this statement not boasting, knt
in order to show what an easy matter
it is and, I belive, might have been
years ago, to obtain the prompt attention
of the business element of the
North to oar advantages as a section.
I sincerely hope that this line of investigation
may be stimulated by others,
so that the South may in the end obtain
its rights."
I
asparagus pays.
A Barnwell Farmer Realizes $200
&n Acre From It.
Asparagus is becoming quite an imSjrtant
crop in the Williston section of
arnwell county. Last year Mr. W.
h. Evans realized from his crop of six
acres 31,200, and another plater sold j
his crop of five acres for 8800. Other ,
farmers intend trying the experiment (
this year, and if this season proves as
f>rofitable as the last, cotton will be no <
onger the only dependence as a money j
crop in this section. In fact, all over ,
South Carolina the progressive farmers \
are fast being ooaverted to believers in ,
diversified Crops. The whole Pee Dee \
country is fast becoming e greet tobac- ,
oo oaucing section. Salnaa and Lexington
ship peaches by the carload.
Fairfield, Chester and York supply a ,
large proportion of the butter used in ,
Columbia. The watermelon crop of
Barnwell, Aiken and Hampton is suffiefcuxft
to make the rival railroads work 1
hard to obtain this (freight William s.
burg ships grapes ft) for
t
' ' '
n MAYORS' MI
' jK&Ez
#
The Convention Adjourns After ?
Electing Officers.
THE RIGHTS OF WHEELMEN. ?
t
City Ownership of Electric Plants
and Water Works-About Good
_ . : r-as
Roads. v
The Mayors' Convention met in the
opera house in Spartanburg last Wed* ^
nesdav in a two days' session. About
200 were present, and the discussions ' j
were strong, short and pointed. All ? j
the mayors seemed to be alive and* in $$
earnest.
Prof. Holmes, State Geologist of
North Carolina, lectured on "Roads
and Street Improvements." His talk
was very suggestive and instructive,
and well illustrated with stereoptican
views. \ $1
The ownership of electrio and water
works plants by the oity was discussed,
resulting in favor of city ownership.
The subject of bored wells was
brought up and was highly commended
by the representatives from Union,
Newberry and Chester. The wells have
been tested at these place? and furnish '<&
150,000 to 200,000 gallons of good water
daily.
Bicycle rights on streets brought out ^
some pretty lively taiK, out as no agrqp- am
ment to the best plan conld be arranged
the bicycles will roll on in the same old
way.
The punishment of children and female
offenders proved a difficult qnes- . w>
tion, which still remains unsolved.
Messrs. Simpson & Simpson of w
Glenn Springs, took the delegates to
Glenn Springs, where they were delightfully
entertained.
Mayor Calvert sent a communication
to the convention expressing his regret "
that he had not been able to attend the
meeting at all, owing to illness. It
seemea bad that the one who had been "ft
the main person in getting up the convention
should not be able to attend, > $
and many were heard regretting
that Mayor Calvert could not be preseni
Those present thought it best to make <
the convention meet once a year, so offi- M'.
cers were elected for the year. The offlcers
are as follows: 1
President, A. B. Calvert, Spartan- *
burg; vioe-presidents, W. D. Morgan,
of Georgetown; G. F. Tolly, of Anderson;
F. L. Zemp, of Camden; J. A.
Fant, of Union; W. McB. Sloan, of
Columbia, and H. H. Evins, of New- % 3
* * i T'V T% JfcD
Derry; secretary ana treasurer, ??. a. ?.
Bichey, Laurens.
Mayor Spratt, who acted as secretary
during the convention, was named as > ,
secretary by the committee, but declined
on acoount of not having time to attend
to the office properly.
After a close vote between Anderson
and Georgetown, the latter was sa- |
lected as the next place of meeting. 'gl
The time will be the second Wednesday %
in May.
A vote of thanks to the people of Spar- jl
tanburg and others for their entertain- -Jk
ment was passed.
A committee on legislation was ap- &1
pointed. Their purpose is to make on- ,
nicipal government more effective. The |
following is the oommittee: A. B. Calvert,
Spartanburg; G. F. Tolley, Anderson;
W. D. Morgan, Georgetown, W.
McB. Sloan, Columbia; John Black, ,
Walterboro. V
Though Mr. Potter was unable to be
present, his paper was read by Mayor
Pro Tern Carlisle.
The convention has been a great suo- cess,
and many things were learned in
it. The mavors attended to learn, and 9m
this shows t&at the town government of
South Caroline is looking npwwd.
ABBEVILLE ANXIOUS
To Be the Base of An Important Sea- ?;;
board Air Line Spur.
A special to The State from Abbe- 3,
Kile under date of the 8th saya: For ;J
some time past there has been a good
leal of talk concerning the construe- ,jff '
tion of a new railroad from Piedmont "
md Pelzer to some point on the Seax?ard
Air Line. The Seaboard Air
Line people are the promoters and of
course as their shops are located here '
it would be advantageous to bring the
new road here, but surveys have been *
nade to other towns, small ones all of
hem, Calhoun Falls and Watts, but ,
his town is pretty sure of getting it
it least, judging from the meeting held A
a ere yesterday afternoon, the busuieas gf
nen are thoroughly alive to the sitae- ' ^
:ion and are going to do all they can in
i financial way to have the road. The
(entiment expressed at this meeting
vent to ahow that the citizens mean to <
lo the right thing and so bring the - :
cad here.
The road as surveyed to Abbeville by
Belton and Due West from Piedmont
md Pelzer will be 41 miles and will
:ost 8345f000. As surveyed via Antre- .V
rill? it will be 44 1-2 miles and will cost . /
1369,000. As surveyed to Watts vie
Vntreville it will be 48 1-3 miles and at
ivill cost 8840,000. As surveyed to Cal- !
loun Falls it will be*47 1-2 miles long V|
ind will cost #?oi,uw. 1 oe uiner- . t
?ns? in the cost in bringing the ' A
oad here and tailing it to Watts is !
$3,000 in favor of Watts, but the ad van- &
:ags in bringing it to Abbeville are *
worth $20,000 more to the promoters of ?
;he enterprise. The Seaboard Air Line
shops are here, and since they are to
operate the new road it would certainly
3e a great advantage to have it come to
;beir shops. Then the Southern
touches Abbeville and this new road,
therefore, by coming here will be in
connection with the two greatest roads
loing business in South Carolina. )
There was a good deal of favorable '*
lisoussion at the meeting yesterday
afternoon, and the business men of thia
city are going to leave no stone urnturned,
but are going to talk railroad
mtil they get it, ana are going to baok
this talk with cash, and so the road in
ibout assured.
Briggs Stmmeraon, the Investor,
says his wife doesn't even know whs*
business he Is in, Grlggs-Why has ha
conceAlsd It from ber> Briggs?Ha Is,*afraid
she might get the Impression
that he could do odd Jobs around the
bouse.?Ufa. _ 4
AL -r 'Au.
?;