University of South Carolina Libraries
V*?' PINE LUMBER TRUST A Cig Combination That Will Control The Market. FOURTEEN COMPANIES ABSORBED. The Value of Plants Brought Into the Deal is Estimated at $25,000,000-* tclmont Heads the Scheme. Baltimore, Special.?A mammotn consolidation of lumber companies will probably be announced within a week or ten days. Fourteen companies, at the least, are to be included in me comDinauon, n me pians cio Bet miscarry, and several others, mailing, perhaps, a total of 20, are expected to be added. A list of the corporations now interested in the negotiations and including the largest of thom, is ae follows: Atlantic Coast Lumber Company, of Georgetown, S. C.; Branning Lumber Company, of Edenton, N. C.; Camp Lumber Company, of Franklin, Va.; Cape Fear Lumber Company, of "Wilmington, N. C.; Gay Manufacturing Company, of Suffolk, Va.; Greenleaf-Johnson Company. of Norfolk, Va.; E. E. Jackson and Co., of Washington, D. C.; Roanoke Railroad and Lumber Company, of Norfolk; Roper Lumber Company, of Norfolk; Suffolk Saw Mill Company, of Baltimore; Tunis Lumber Company, of Baltimore; W. W. Tunis Brothers Lumber Co., of Norfolk; Virginia Saw Mill Company, of Norfolk. It is said the deal is the result of a mewting held In this city prior to the election. Among those who participated in this conference were August Boixnont, of the New York banking , v firm, and representatives of neariy ail the companies named above. After the conference the party proceeded to Norfolk, and inspected the plants of some of the lumber compan.es. Conferences have since been held in New York and 1 the negotiations, it is said, have practically reached a practical termination. It is understood that all the capital to secure the consolidation will be forthcoming and that the Belmonts will finance the deal, the total value of tfcfl various olants beinir about $25. 000.000. Mr. Auerbach is to attend to the legal side of the proposition. The combination is to control the market lor Carolina pine, which is said to have been much demoralized by competition between i~e numerous concerns in the trade. This class ot lumber figures extensively as building ljaterial, being used In every way MMat lumber is necessary in the ereo^Jfion of all classes of structures. According to a prominent lumber man, it Is not proposed to advance prices, but to make money by economizing in the operating expenses, and also not to increase the export of lumber. Gossip about the deal was frequent in trade clfcles * to-day. Ex-Senator Tunis Lumber Company, which has Its mills at Norfolk, returned from New York, but declined to discuss details of the combine. He admitted, however, that negotiations are in progress. oovernor Smith of this State, is heavily interested in the Surry Lumber Company. He is also Interested la the Surry, Sussex and Southampton Railrcad, which penetrates the timber lands cf the former company. It is a narrow gauge line. 28 miles in length, and woutd doubtless be included in the deal. Engineer Killed. Franklin, Pa., Special.?The Lake Shore passenger train, which left this city for the West at 7 o'clock Friday evening collided with a Pennsylvania freight on the Lake Shore, between Polk and Raymilton, 12 miles west of Franklin. The engineer of the freight waa killed; the engineer and fireman and Frank Paden. of the passenger train, were badly injured. Baggagemaster Tom Sutton, of Oil City, auj throe passengers are missing. DISPENSARY REPORT. Result of the Legislative Committee's Labors. The following is tho official report of the legislative examining committee :s to the condition and operations of the State dispensary for the quarter ending August 31st, fl'.ed with the Governor last week: To Hi9 Excellency, Miles B. McSweenoy, Governor, Columbia, S. C.: Dear Sir: The undersigned joint committee appointed by the General Assembly to evamino the books and financial transactions of the State dispensary, beg to submit herewith our report for the quarter ending Auguit SI. 1900. The stock on hand was taken on August 31st and September 1st by W. H. Sharps, representing the committee, and J. C. Moody, representing the State board of directors. All stock and supplies were actually exhibited, counted and valued. The system of bookkeeping is excellent and the bookkeepers very particular. painstaking and correct. We found the dispensary director coming up to the full measure of his duty, having worked the institution up to a high business standard. The board of directors are very harmonious by doing their work In a fine business way. We append hereunto statements of assets and liabilities, cash statement, receipts and disbursements, all of which i3 respectfully submitted. 1 J. T. HAY. fcpn^tnr. W. H. SHARPB, Member of House of Representatives. ASSETS AND LIABILITIES. The first of these statements is as follows: AS3ETS. i Cash in State treasury Aug31. 1900 ^142,503.53 Teams and wagons (invt'y). 64.00 Supplies (inventory) 31,994.10 Machinery and office fixtures (inventory) 2,795 64 Contraband (inventory) .. 585.S3 Real estate 36,635.08 Suspended accounts 5,987.63 Merchandise In hands of dispensers 210,144.47 Merchandise (inventory Aug 31st) 190.9S6.43 Personal accounts due State for empty barrels, alcohol beer, etc 5,132.42 Total assets $626,829.19 LIABILITIES. School fund $320,556.86 Personal accounts due by State for supplies, whiskies, winea, beer, alcohol, etc 106,272.33 Total liabilities $626,829.13 The statement of the profit and I06S account is as follows: PROFITS. Gross profits on merchandise sold during quarter. $87,272.53 Contraband seizures 750.63 State's one-half share of profits on beer sold by the Germania Brewing Co., during quarter 2,862.40 Total $90,925.62 I.CSSES. Supplies?Bottles, corks, labels, wire, tin foil, lead seals, boxes, rails, sealing - f?e> rvorv at wax, etc., tor quarter .... to.vov.to Insurance premiums 666.30 Breakage and leakage .... 84.91 Labor (pay rolls) 3,754.29 Expense Account?Salaries, expenses of inspectors per diem and mile?ge of members of state board of directors and legislative examining committee, office supplies, lights, telegrams, postage, stock fedd. ice, printing, revenue stamps, telephone rent, etc 6.218.12 Constabulary 10,278.58 Freight and express charges 15,425.20 Revenue licenses 125.00 Worthless beer at Lancaster dispensary destroyed by county board of control June 1, 1900 8.10 Worthless porter, beer and wine at Y?finnsboro dispensary, condemned by county board of control 17.23 Lo-'S by robbery at G. McC. Honour's dispensary, Charleston, S. C 3.57 Loss by robbery at Kershaw dispensary Feb. 24, 1900, per report of Inspector Boykin 76.57 Total expenses $65,647.2C Met profit on sales for the quarter, passed to the credit of the school fund. $25,278.26 Total $99,925.G2 n? ?*?=>? lifafAmpnt fnr the auarter ending August 31st. is as follows: RECEIPTS. Balance in State treasury May 31. 1900 $115,871.61 June receipts ..$116,489.40 Julv receipts .. 125.753.55 Aug .. .... .. 134,530.60?$376,773.53 Grand total $192,645.16 DISBURSEMENTS. June disb'sm'ts $114,319.12 July disb'sra'ta 119,072.54 Aug. disb'sra't3 115,749.97?$330,141.63 Balance in State treasury Aug. 31, 1900 142.503.33 Grand total $492,645.16 i Assigned to Stations. Washington, D. ., Special.?Th? troops which will return from Porto Rico as a recrlt of the abandonment of the island as a miljtary department have been assigned to the stations in this country as follows: Two companies of the Eleventh Infantry will go to the Washington barracks, while the other two companies of the same regiment will be sent to Fort McPher son, Ga. Two troops of the Fifth Infantry will be assigned to Jefferson barracks, Mo., and two other troops of the same regiment will ge to Fort Bthn Allen, Vermont. Col. Mattox Killed. * V \ liberton, Ga., Special?At Heard>mont, 12 miles below Elberton, Saturday afternoon, Hon. W. F. Mattox was shot and killed by his son-in-law, J. B. Jones, Jr. No particulars have been obtained except t-nt luey were shooting at each other. Colonel Mattox was about 67 years of age and has long been one of the most prominent men in his section of the State. THE NEGOTIATIONS Regarding China are Advancing Satisfactorily. AMERICAN PRESTIGE ADVANCED. Humane and Moderate Policy Adopt ed is flaking Friends for the American Position. Washington, D. C., Special.?The State Department has not heard from Minister Conger for four days past. His last report upon the progress of the negotiations now going on at Pekin between ministers, taken in connection with the Department's ample instructions relative to this subject, warrants the officials here ip confirming the Pekin view that the end of these consultations is in sightIt cannat be conceded, however, that disapproval is entertained of the attitude of tne German military commander in China, and though our government has not protested against the punitive expeditious, which it regards as ingenuously calculated to cause fresh outbreaks among the Chinese, it fears the results. There i3 no hesitation in energetically denying the European implication that the United states government is moved in its Chinese course by sentimental and unbusinesslike considerations. On the contrary, it is pointed X VII. f-ViA UUl LUill Y* liiie ttilUUicui. JO uu UK, side of our government on tnis matter, it is accompanied by the soundest business considerations, for the animating purpose of the State Department now is to prevent the destruction of Chinas? territorial integrity upon pretexts; to maintain the open door for which our government has alone contended and to secure indemnities for the past and guarantees for the future. It is felt that these objects can be secured without breaaing the Implied truce entered into between the ministers and Li Hung Chang and Prince Ching. A dispatch from Chinese sources agrees in slating that American prestige has been greatly advanced in China by the mode-ate and human? course adopted by the united States. Daughters of the Confederacy. Montgomery, Ala., Special.? At the closing session of the meeting of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, officers were elected as follows: Mrs. E. J. Weew, of Florida, president; Mrs W. W. Reed, of New York, flr3t vicepresident; Mrs. S. T. McCullogh, of Virginia, second vice president; Mr.. John P. Hickman of Tennessee, recorJlng secretary; Miss Mary F. Meares, o' North Carolina, corresponding secretary; Mrs. J. JefTerson Thomas, of Georgia, treasurer, all re-elected. Tho next annual meeting will be held at Wilmington, N. C. At the morning session reports of the officers were heard. These showed the organization to be in good condit:on. A heated discussion took place on the question of voting reprtsiuiiiiiiiuii auu uicucuuhi^ but as the issue was local, it was ruled out of order. Phi ippine Postal Service Vv'ashlogton, D. C., Special.?Recent developments in the postal service in the Philippines are reported by Director General of Posts Vaille, in communications just received by the Postoffice Department. Regarding the censorship of the mails, .the direetc: general says General MaeArthur is lully in accord v.ith him in his contention that postal censorship 6hall be resoited to only in case cf absolute necessity. He says there has been and will be no friction between postal and military authorities on V"s question. Me recognizes, however, that occasions may arise where censorship la absolutely necessary, and has given instruction that officers of the postal service shall in every way ao&ist the military. The South's Surgeons. Atlanta, Ga., Special?The Southern Surgical and Gynecological association which has been in session here for three days, concluded its work Thursday. The following officers were elected: President, Dr. Manning Simons, Charleston, S. C.; first vice president. Dr. George H. Noble, Atlanta; sec on J vice president, Dr. L. C. Bosher, Richmond, Va.; secretary, Dr. W. D. Haggard, Nashville, Tenn.; treasurer. Dr. Floyd W. McRae, Atlanta. Ga.; general council. Dr. George J. Englcmann, Boston; Dr. George B. Johnson, Richmond, Va.; Dr. L. McLane Tiffan;., Baltiore, and Dr. Louis S. McMurtre), Louisville. Threat to BL w Up a Town. London, By Cable.?"The Vryheid garrison is practically besieged,' says the Pietermaxitzburg correspondence of The Daily Telegraph, wiring Thursday, "and the town is evacuated. A position has been taken up on the hills commanding it, and notices have been posted in the vicinity warning the iioers that, if they attempt to re-occupy the town, k will be blown to pieces." GOVERNOR'S QUfcSTIONS About Enforcement of the Dispensary Law. Columbia, Special.?Gov. McSwceney is again endeavoring to L>el the pulse of the people of the State in regard to the dispensary law. He is doing this by writing to mayors of cities and intendants of towns, asking if they are enforcing the law, etc. These officials, with one exception so far, declare that they are trying to carry out tie law as they are sworn to do. Quite a number of mayors have been heard from, the most unique reply being that of the chief executive of Yorkville. The mayor of Columbia has not replied. The governor's clrctV to ne municipal executives reads as follows: Columbia, Nov. 1, 1&00. Dear Sir: Scon after I came into office I addressed a communication to th?< mayors and intendants of the vano.'s cities and towns in this State, asking their co-operation in the enforcement of the dispensary law. The response which I received were very encouraging and I am sure that this request for the co-operation of the municipal authorities resulted in good "*,J ~ ^ An r\f + V* a 10 IV I a.uu el utrtun tuv> im.t. My purpose now is not only to renew my request for the hearty co-operaticn of the municipal authorities in the enforcement of this law but also to receh-e any suggestions that any of these officers may feel inclined to make. Inasmuch as tne people of the State ha\e shown in several elections by a very decided majority that they are in fa?'or of the dispensary system it seems to me that the best thing for all good citizens to do is to go earnestly to work to amend and improve the law and as far as possible perfect the system. This should be the duty not only of those who are in favor of the system, but also of those who have opposed it. I have endeavored to enforce the law without friction and without bloodshed and I feel gratified at the result. I feel satisfied, that the only way to secure a strict enforcement of the law is to have a healthy public sentiment in favor of its enforcement. I This can be accomplished much bet-1 o'l low nff{/>/vrc in thP I LCI W UCU an l UK? tun V1I..VV.O State, including the municipal authorities, co-operate with the special constables in its enforcement. I desire to certain information in regard to the enforcement of the law in your town and in order to get it I will appreciate it if you would answer the questions which I enclose herewith. I am fully convinced that much of the prejudice which has heretofore exited against the dispensary law does not now exist and a great many of those who at one time bitterly opposed it havp minp to realize that it is the b< st solution of the liquor question that has yet been devised. The principal thing now is to have it properly enforced and with a healthy public sentftnent in its favor and a realiza tion on the part of the municipal authorities that it is part of their duty to assist and co-opcrate in its enforcement violations of the law will grow less and less. It is my desire t see that illicit sales of whiskey are put down and also that those in charge of the dispensary do not violate the law either. If special constables are not needed in your town to assist the police I will withdraw them and on the contrary if they are need I will be glad to have you indicate it and I will see that they are sent. I believe as a rule you can enforce the law better with your own police than it can be done by a special constable. I would like to have an early response from you to the questions which I have asked and also any suggestions which you may think advisable for the improvement and enforcement of the law and I will be rind to have you give your" views fully. Yours truly, M. II. McS*. EENEY, Governor. The questions submitted to iue municipal executives were as follows: 1. Is the dispensary law strictly en iorcea in your town; 2. Have you given instructions to yOur police to enforce the law? 3. Do you need a special State constable to assist the municipal authorities in its enforcement? 4. Is the sentiment of your town in favor of the ^spensary law and its strict enforcement? 5. Are you and your city council in fa\or of the strict enforcement of the :aw? 6. Is the law being violated in your town at present and to what extent? 7. Have you any suggestions to make as to a better enforcement of it or any change in the law itself? Report o?^ eizures. The reports of seizures made by the State constabulary for the week end.ng November 10 show that in that :ime 1S7 7-8 gallons of booze. 10 kegs vl 82 1-6 tiozen bottles of beer were y .^ed. Two convictions were secured, foe salary cf these 44 constables for he w<?k,is about $600, while at an average vf* $2.50 a gallon for the liquar, a dollar & dozen and $2.50 a keg for he beer th? revenue from the seizures .vould be ih the neighborhood of that -cn far this week at least I he constabulary was self sustaining, ithough one or two squads did all the vork, had all the luck, or whatever It alight bo which brings results. t f / . TROUBLE WITH DARKIES A Gentleman at Florence Has a Fight at the Depot. Florence, Special.?There have teen serious trouble at lantic Coast Line passenger cT'fot r? . 2 t. A AV/v .aaaj Vvrtft* ouuuay uigui uviwecu oiitj fm.co wu-v for the efforts of a policeman, the effective work of Mr. J. G. Epperson'* walking stick and finally the accident tai discharge of a pistol which diepersed the crowd of negroes who seam to have been to blame for the threatened riot. There was a large crowd of n eg rot* loafing about the platform, a usual Sunday evening occurrence. Mr. Epperson was escorting a lady from on* of the trains and his progress was blocked by a lot of negroes who refused to move. The largest of them used language said to be vile, and Mr. Epperson broke an umbrella over hie head, the negro struck Mr. Epperson twice in the head with a hickory ttick, each blow bringing blood and leaving a gasfo. Several negroes are said to have surrounded, the whita man, hrnndisbinc walVina? canes. One of the canes Mr. Epperson, seized, and made a path through the crowd by cracking heads promiscuously until the stick broke. Few white men were near, and but one or tiro attempted to aid Mr. Epperson. Mr. Phillips rushed in but was knocked down and pulled to one side by some negroes. Mr. Phillips' pistol ,was accidentally die charged and the negroes scattered. Policeman Brunson did his utmost to quell the disturbance. The New Tug. Beaufort, Special?The new steam tug Abram Minus, of Savannah, Ga., was here Sunday night The vessel is the most powerful tow boat on the south Atlantic coast, and was only ver recently completed ' by a prominent shipbuilding concern in the north. As the Minis proceeded up the narDor ner powerful search light reveaied every object for several miles around, and the spectacle attracted very general attention. When the tug was abreast of the plant of the Virginia-Carolina Chemical company, the steamer Pilot Boy was Just passing the Coosaw works, a mile further up the harbor, on her way down to Land's End. The search light wa3 turned on the Pilot Boy and revealed her to people along the shore as clearly as the light of tha fun would have done, the steamer's high, wh-ite hull and paddle boxes standing out in bold relief against tha background of nig'ht. The Savannah Tow Boat company may well feel proud of this new and fine acquisition to their fleet The Minis is over 150 feet long, and Is equipped with tha latest type of quadruple expansion engines, and also with steam steering gear. The vessel's hull, constructed of steel, is a fine specimen of marina architecture, combining the lines of a steam yacht with far greater strength than is ever found in vessels of that type. The search light is an adjunct seldom, if ever, seen on tugs outside the government service in these waters, and the display of the one on board the nocturnal visitor attracted perhaps greater attention to her than would otherwise have manifeeteu it? self. Killing at Eastover. Eastover, Special.?Mr. W. S. Hodge, who lives about one and one-hail miles from Eastover, was found dead Mouday morning in the road about half a mile from Ei stover. From evi1 ? JA Iff on ortrl ueo.ce il oyin;ji? iuai ?u, x^uU?>^ Mr. Houston Joyner, who lived near each other and are brothers-in-law, had had some old feud existing between them for some time, and they met this morning and got into a fight and Mr. Hodge in the fight was killed by Mr. Joyner. The verdict of the jury of inquest w'as "that Mr. W. S. Hodge came to his death by a gunshot wound and a blow inflicted at the hands cf Mr. Houston Joyner." Mr. Joyner after the killing of Mr. Hodge, came to the station and boarded a train as coolly and quiet as if nothing had happened. He went to Colum bia and surrendered to the sherirr. mr. Jcyner is a very quiet and peaceable man Killed at Clifton. Clifton, Special.?Immediately after religious services at the Ball at Converse (Clifton No. 3) Sunday night, Thcs. GIbaon and Pasco Bradley became engaged in a difficulty whic^ resulted in Gibson shooting and instantly killing Bradley. The former, however, is dangerously cut and little hope is entertained for his recovery. Both are young men not over 21 years of age and of respectable families. Annual Inspection. The railroad commissioners are now arranging to .start out at once upon their annual inspection tours or the various railroads in the State. This year the commisricners will divide up the work one taking one road while each of the others take two others. Inl this way the work will be much facilitatcd. Caredul inspections wijl be made of all lines, particular a being given to bridges and"' i This year's report will show consiaSl^p^ J able addition to the mileage of the^l State. Secretary Duncan1 is already F arranging much of the material for tha forthcoming annual report. t t V I *? ^ ^ \ /i 1 ; 4. lk Jr.