The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, September 01, 1904, Image 7
TO SETTLE STRIKE
Chkago Authorities Making Efforts
to Compromise Matters
ALDERMEN MAKE ANOTHER EFFORT
Mayor Harrison Empowered to Appoint
Aldermen to Wait on Both
Sides?Packers Granted the Injunction
Prayed For to Restrain the
City From Interfering With Their
Lodging Arrangements and the
City Appeals.
Chicago, Special.?The city authorities
are to make a second attempt to
settle the stockyards strike. At a
meeting of the city council Thursday
night a resolution was passed empowering
Mayor Harrison to appoint aldermen
who are going to make It their
business to bring about a settlement
Invitations were at once sent to the
leaders of the strikers and to representatives
of the employers, Inviting them
to meet the members of the committee
Friday morning. President Donnelly,
of the Butchers' Union, will be before
the committee at 10 o'clock, and in
the invitation sent to the packers they
were asked to appear one hour later.
Judge Brentano issued an injunction
restraining the city of Chicago
from interfering with the lodging of
non-union employes in the packing
houses at the stockyards. The city
will appeal.
Annie Clark, a forewoman for Nelson
Morris & Co., was attacked by
girl pickets while riding on a street
car. A lively fight followed in which
hat pins were the weapons used. Miss
Clark was severely injured and was removed
to her home by the police. She
recognized several ef her assailants
and secured warrants for their arrest.
The packers resumed the importation
of strike-breakers on a large scale
A special train of seven car-loads arrived
over the Eria Railroad. Two
car-loads of strike-breakers were
hmnoht In iin/ior hpuvv nnllp* marrf
over the Monon road.
Thos. Stoker, "business agent ot the
Perk Cellar Men's Union, announced
Thursday that six non-union Greeks
from the Armour plant had been initisted
into the union after they returned
to the stock yords enclosure,
promising to lead out 1,500 other nonunion
Greeks. The Greek clergy and
G-eek business interests we reported as
making every effort to influence 1,500 to
leave because of the strikers' action
lr declaring boycotts against Greek
business houses by way of reprisal.
Fifty colored women strike-breakers
left the stockyards, claiming that they
had deserted the packers. Superintendent
Farris, of Nelson Morris & Co.,
however, asserted that the work of the
women had been unsatisfactory and
that they had been discharged.
Russian Heir Christened.
St. Petersburg, By Cable.?A wave
of rejoicing and festivity swept over
Russia with the rising of the sun on
the christening day of the heir to the
Russian throne, culminating when the
Te Deum, softly chanted in the beautiful
little church of the Peterhof Pal
uoe, announced mai me ceremuny was
accomplished, and the news was heralded
to the world without by the
^ crash of cannon and the chiming of
Innumerable church bells, echoing from
the Baltic to the Black Sea, and from
the frontiers of Poland to the confines
of the farthest East. Notwithstanding
the momentous events passing at
the front, the whole population turned
gladly for the time being from more
serious considerations to participating
ia the day of glittering ceremonial and
pageantry at Peterhof, where the tiny
successor of the great White Czar received
at the hands of the Church the
r.ame of Alexis Nicholaevitch, from
which he is destined to pass in course
of time to the dignity and responsibility
of Autocrat of all vhe Russians.
Terrell Orders Inquiry.
Atlanta, Special.?On his return from
St. Louis. Governor Terrell held a conference
with Sampson W. Harrison,
Adjutant General of Georgia, in regard
to the lynching a* Statesbora,
The conference terminated with the
appointment of a court of inquiry to
investigate the conduct of the militia
frcm which the mob took the prisoners.
The court is composed of the following
gentlemen: Colonel A. R. Lawton,
(retired), of Savannah, president; Col
W. E. Wooten, of Albany; Lieutenant
Colonel W. W. Barker, of Atlanta; Major
Warren Grice, of Hawkinsville.
Vessels at Shanhaf Disarmed.
London, By Cable.?The correspondent
of The Times at Shanghai, In
a dispatch dated Aug. 24, 11.35 p. m.,
says that orders fiom Emperor Nicholas
have been conveyed to Captain
Rcitzstein, commanding him forthwith
to disarm the cruiser Askold
and the torpedo boat destroyer Grozovoi,
and that "the flags on both vessels
were lowered at 7 o'clock."
125-Year-Old Darkey Dead.
Washington, Ga., Special.?Caesar
Booker, believed to be 125 years old,
died here Wednesday. He came to
Georgia 90 years ago, as a slave from
Virginia. He did not know his exact
age. but his memory of events of over
a century ago was good and Indubitably
correct. Not a house of the
present Washington was built when
he was purchased by a Wilkes county
farmer. Caesar leaves six children,
the oldest of whom lives near Thomson,
Ga., and is 96 years old.
NEWS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTIY
Paragraphs of Minor Importance
Gathered From Many Sources.
Through the South.
The great sea wall at Galveston has
been completed.
It Is understood the State Department
Is now trying to secure concessions
to American Jews in Russia, on
the assumption that the birth of an
heir will lead the Czar to be more generous.
Former Secretary of the Treasury
John G. Carlisle had a long conference
with Judge Parker at Rosemont It is
not lfkely that Judge Parker will maae
any speeches in this campaign.
It is announced that the MurphyMcCarren
feud has bee* temporarily
shelved.
David W. Armstrong, in Richmonu,
filed his answer to the suit of Mrs.
Maybrick's mother.
The Governor of West Virginia will
appoint John Whittier judge in the
seventh circuit.
It is reported In Richmond ' that
Lewis Nixon is contemplating the use
of the Trig shipyards for building warships
for Russia.
Washington Happenings.
A party of 505 members of the British
House of Commons will call on the
PraeMont f5onl?mhw 22.
Assistant Secretary of Stat# Loomiu
lectured at the Naval War College,
Newport, R. I? on "Some Problems of
the Caribbean Sea."
In the North.
Wheat prices at Chicago iuctuated
4% cents.
Non-union miners took possession of
Cripple Creek and deported 19 residents.
Sixteen persons were killed and Slr000,000
in property by a gale that swept
Minneapolis and St. Paul.
J. Edwerd Addick is said to have
chosen Conrad as the Union Republican
notalnee for Governor of Delaware.
It is understood by the Chicago
packing-house strikers that President
Roosevelt intends to keep out of that
muddle and leave the strikers to take
care of their own fight.
An agreement was reached In New
York by which the litigation against
the shipbuilding trust and C. M.
Schwab is ended.
Mrs. Cordelia Botkin waa found
guilty for the third time of poisoning
Mrs. John P. Dunning, of Dover, Del.,
by sending poisoned candy through the
moll nnrt was Rpntpncfd to imDrison
nent for life.
Foreign Affairs.
The American authorities in Shanghai
and Washington disavowed an?
intention to interfere with the Japanese
at Shanghai.
? The bombardment of Port Arthur
was continued fiercely.
Thirty-five men were killed and 85
wounded in a hand-to-hand battle between
Uruguayan troops and revolutionists.
Paraguayan revolutionists captured
the garrison of Villa Reyes, consisting
of 200 men.
The British Association in session at
Cambridge, England, discussed the cotton
crisis, but seemed unable to find a
remedy.
The Russian Holy Synod has reduced
from seven to two years the time in
which divorced persons are allowed to
remarry.
The Russian cruiser Norik, after a
fight with two Japanese cruisers, was
driven ashore on Sakhalin Island and
partly sunk.
American Consul Goodnow has ordered
the monitor Monadnock and
other American warships to be ready
tr? nmtprt the nentalitv of Shanghai.
supposed to be threatened by the Japanese
Navy.
Miscellaneous Doings.
President Castro, of Venezuela, prefers
to continue the Asphalt receivership
until the Supreme Court of that
country gives Its decision.
M. L. Turner, of Oklahoma, bought
the entire issue of $3,000,000 Philippine
certificates of indebtedness at $101,410.
Court records show that a slave of
Nicholas Roosevelt was burned to death
by law in New York over a century
ago.
Among the callers on President
Roosevelt at Oyster Bay was "Diamond
Dick." a noted negro politician. One
lone Jerseyman called on Parker.
The Paraguayan insurgents set up a
new government at Villa del Pilar.
The effort of Montagu Holbein to
swim the English channel failed.
J. D. McNeill, of Fayettville, N. C.,
was elected president of the National
Fireman's Association. The next meeting
win be held at Kansas City.
Jim Corbett and Jack O'Brien have
accepted the offer of the Tuxedo Athletic
Club, of Philadelphia, for their
six-round boxing bout on the night of
September 7. The club ofTers 7 per
cent, of the gross receipts to the boxers
and has on option on the armory building
for the contest.
No world's records were broken at
the second day's automobile races at
Cleveland, O. The best time for the day
was made in the lest regular event,
the ten miles open, when Kiser went a
mile in 57 seconds.
IN SOUTH CAROLINA
Many Neway Items Gathered Frorr
all Sections.
i
Confederate Soldiers Exempt.
On account of the many inquiries j
which the comptroller general has re-!
ceived as to the recent law exempting 1
Confederate soldiers from license taxes i
he has asked the attorney general for !
an opinion. Assistant Attorney General
W. H. Townsend recently sent the
following opinion to Mr. Jones:
"Answering your inquiry to the at
torney general, I beg to say that in
my opinion, the act to exempt Confederate
soldiers and sailors from paying
license fees (24 statutes 441) gives a
personal privilege which cannot be
transferred to others. The effect of this
personal exemption is the same as
that of a person paying the license tax
in question. If a person paying the
license tax could employ others to
carry on the business under him, then
the soldier or sailor exempted could
do so likewise. This depends in each
case upon the terms of the statute or
ordinance imposing the license tax."
The act is as follows:
"An act to exempt soldiers and sailers
from paying license.
"Section 1. That all soldiers and sailors
of the Confederate States, who enlisted
from this State and who were
honorably discharged from such ser
vice, shall hereafter he exempt from
the charge of any license for the carrying
on of any business or profession
within this State, or any city, town or
village therein: Provided, That such
soldiers and sailors shall file with the
clerk of the court of the county In
which he resides, the proper evidence
of his service in the Confederate war:
Provided, further, That no partnership
shall exist in any such business or
profession, with any person not a bona
fide soldier or sailor of the said Confederate
States.
"Approved the 25th day of February,
A. D. 1904."
Dead Child Found in a Well.
Chester, Special.?Tuesday afternoon
two negro boys went to a well in one
of the negro settlements of the town
to draw water. Ab the bucket teUed to
"sink" they looked into the well to try
to find the cause. They called two
passers-by who drew up from the water
a dead female child, a bright mulatto,
apparently three or four months old.
The case was reported to Coroner J. H.
Gladden, who summoned Dr. W. B. Cox
to make examination. Dr. Cox 9aid the
child had been dead from 24 to 48
hours. A jury of inquest was empaneled
and rendered a verdict that the child
came to its death from drowning at the
hands of persons to the jury unknown.
The verdict was not accepted by the
coroner, who adjourned the jury of inquest
for further inquiry into the
New Enterprises.
The secretary of state has chartered
a new Columbia enterprise, the James
Chemical company. This company will
place on the market certain preparations
and has a capital of $10,000. The
officers are: Dr. L. A. Griffin, president;
James L. Hanahan, general manager,
and Dr. William Weston, secretary
and treasurer.
An eleemosynary charter was granted
to the New Century Benevolent Insurance
company of Greenwood.
A like charter was granted to the
Richmond Volunteers Benevolent association
of Enterprise on Wadmalaw
Island.
The Honea Path Lumber company
received a commission. The capital is
$5,000 and the corporators are: R. "M.
Shirley, J. T. Stone, E. W. Grubbs and
J. F. Shirley.
Lad Drowned.
Beaufort, Special.?Nelson Parks,
colored, 11 years old, of Savannah, fell
from a lighter about 7 o'clock Tuesday
morning and was drowned before asbistance
could reach him. Two young
brothers were on a wharf near by, but,
not being able to swim, were powerless
to render aid. After two hours' search
the body was recovered and will be
taken by the parents to Savannah tomorrow
morning for interment.
Immigrants Coming.
Commissioner Watson has been notified
by the Charities society of New
York that two boys will be sent to this
State in a few days. These are the first
of a large number of boys that are coming
to South Carolina and will be sent
to Ninety-Six. The two Germans who
have been working on the government
farm will be sent to. St. Matthews and
will be supplied by others at the farm.
Mr. Watson has also been notified that
the first consignment of immigrants
from Marseilles has arrived in New
York city and has sailed on the Apache
for Charleston. The immigrants will arrive
in Charleston tonight and will
come to Columbia.
Monument to Beauregard.
A movement has been started in
Charleston to erect a handsome granite
arch on Washington square to the
memory of Gen. Pierre Gustav Toutant
Beauregard. A movement was inaugurated
some years ago and voluntary donations
were made for the purpose, but
the sum was not sufficiently large to
undertake the work and the money
was deposited in bank. It was recently
decided to erect a monument on a
smaller scale than originally planned
and now this is to be done.
ATTEMPTED TO USE POISON
Deaton Tried to Escape the Penalty of
His Crime But is Now in the State
Prison.
Columbia State of Sunday: W. E.
Deaton Is now within the walls of the
penitentiary and, with his arrival,
there ends a very peculiar case. It is
the story of a wife unfaithful to her
husband. The woman, however, testified
on the witness stand that she, and
not her husband, had fired the shot.
The jury did not credit this statement
and Deaton was sent to prison for
life.
This is not the end of the story. Before
Deaton was sent to the penitentiary
his wife attempted to send him
poison concealed in some clothing.
J. L. Patterson, the man who was
killed, lived in Fort Mill and was a
barber. He was a well known and
somewhat popular character. About
15 years ago W. E. Deaton came to
Fort Mill from North Carolina and
after a few years' residence in the
York town he married a Miss Mary
Faulkner. In 1892 Mrs. Deaton and Patterson
were working together in a cotton
mill and at that time a friendship
sprung up between them which resulted
In an intimacy of an unfortunate nature.
Deaton was very much troubled
over this but became reconciled to his
wife, after they had agreed to go to
North Carolina to live. They remained
in Huntersville, N. C., from 1892 until
about the first part of the present year, j
when they moved back to Fort Mill.
Patterson's shop was near the Deaton
home and it is supposed that the intimacy
of the two was resumed. Mrs.
Deaton testified at the trial that on
the night of the crime?May 8, 1904?
Patterson came to the door of her
house. She opened the door, not knowing
who it was, and Patterson seized
her and dragged her into the yard.
When her husband returned from his
work she told him what had happened.
He went with his wife to the home of
Patterson "to have a settlement," as
he expressed it |
rmiereun nau ciusto mo Daruer auup
and was going toward his home, about
a half mile distance. As he neared the
corner of his fence he was struck in
the hip by a load of buckshot, from the
efTects of which he died some little
while afterwards. Such was the statement
that he made before his death.
On the night of the killing, according
to Mrs. Deaton's evidence, Deaton
went out with his gun. She followed
and they came upon Patterson. Deatoo
demanded that the latter tat hta wtfe
alone. Patterson drew his pistol, and
she, having got possession of-the gun,
fire the fatal shot. Patterson firing
his pistol almost at the same time.
Deaton said that on going home that
night he found his wife crying and
walking the room. She mare a statement
in regard to Patterson. Deponent
then grabbed the gun and started out,
his wife following. He came up with
Patterson and demanded that he let his
wife alone. Patterson drew his pistol.
Deaton pushed his wife aside and said
don't shoot her. He heard two shots
right together. As parties were coming
up, he left for home, thinking they
night shoot him.
The Jury evidently did not believe
the testimony of Deaton and his wife,
and a verdict of guilty with recommendation
to mercy was rendered.
Even after Deaton had been convicted
and sentenced to life imprisonment
be endeavored to cheat the State of the
penalty. The Yorkville Enquirer contains
an interesting account of a plan
which Mrs. Deaton had devised to free
her husband from the prison stripes.
It says:
"One day last week there came a letter
for Deaton from his wife in Fort
Mill, and Deputy Sandifer read it over
carefully. In it he found a reference
about like this: 'I am going to send
it tn vnur hut I would not. had you
not promised that you would not use
it until then, and had I not promised
you. I don't want to send it. I am
afraid. Now remember your promise
not to use it until everything else falls.
It will be stitched in the hem of your
pants.'
"Mrs. Deaton came over to Yorkville
Friday bringing her children and a
bundle for her husband. Deputy Sandifer
gave her to understand that the
bundle would have to be left outside
until he could examine it. She protested
that she had several articles
that she needed for the children, and
made excuses intended to keep the
bundle in her possession until she
could see her husband. Mr. Sandifer
then told her to take out such articles
as were intended for her husband end"
leave them outside; that he would attend
to the delivery later.
"After Mrs. Deaton had had an interview
with her husband in the presence
o? Mr. Sandifer, the deputy proceeded
to make a careful examination of all
the articles in the bundle, especially
the cents, in the hem of which he
found a small paper package filled with
a white powder. He afterward showed
the powder to several physicians;
but none of them were able to tell certainly
what it is. Mr. Sandifer, however,
is very well satisfied that the
powder is a deadly poison, and that it
was the purpose of Deaton to use it
either before he started for the penitentiary
nr after he may have decided i
that death was preferable to a longer
confinement in that institution.
"Upon learning of the circumstances
outlined above, MaJ. James F. Hart,
attorney for Deaton, promptly notified
the clerk of the court of the withdrawal
of the appeal he had entered, and
said he would have nothing more to do
with the case. The clerk Immediately
telegraphed for a penitentiary guard
and Deaton will be taken to the penitentiary.
Homicide in South Carolina.
Spartanburg, SL C., Special.?A special
from Sumter says that Magistrate
Richard C. Folk was shot and killed
this morning in a difficulty with County
Supervisor W. H. Seale, at Providence.
Folk drew a pistol on Seale, who attempted
to disarm him. The pistol was
discharged in the struggle grazing
Seal's coat and the ball lodged inFolk's
head. Seale was unarmed.^The difficulty
occurred in the public road, in front
of Seal's house. The only witnesses
were Seale's son and Folk's brother.
SOUTH CAROLINA CROP BULLETIN
The Conditions of Crops for the Past
Week Given Out by the Department.
The week ending 8 a. m. August 22nd
had a mean temperature of 80 degrees
which is also the normal for the week;
there was a slight deficiency in temperature
on the coast. The extremes were
a minimum of 59 at Batesburg on the
loth, and a maximum of 96 at Batesburg.
Blackville and Bowman on several
dates. The sunchine averaged about
05 per centum of the possible and was
very beneficial after the recent cloudy
weather. Hail and high winds did considerable
lamage locally, on the 15th,
from Aiken county westward to Oconee,
and in Williamsburg; also in
Georgetown on the 16th.
There were quite general showers
mostly in the form of thunderstorms
on the 15th and 19th, with heavy reins
locally in nearly every part of the
State, and there were occasional light
showers on other dates except the last
two of the week which were practically
without rain. Lands and crops were
damaged in a few pieces, but generally
this week's precipitation was not unfavorable
although a week of dry
weather would prove beneficial. The
average precipitation was below nor-,
mal, with, however, excessive amounts
in localities scattered over the whole
State.
The general condition of corn is
slightly better than heretofore ,and the
weather enabled considerable fodder to
be saved from old corn; all reports on
young corn continue favorable so that a
good crop is practically assured. There
is no material change in the average
condition of cotton, for while on sandy
lands it continues to shed excessively
and rust is spreading, and the plants
are turning yellow and are dying in
places, and in many places have ceased
to fruit, on red lands there is a marked
improvement in fruitage and growth,
though the weed is too large on clay
lands generally and some fields have
become foul, and while the bottom crop
is light, the middle crop is heavy. Bolls
have begun to open in the southeastern
counties and some cotton nag oeen
picked, but picking will not be general
in tbose sections until about September
1st. Sea-Island cotton Is blooming
profusely and Is well fruited.
Tobacco curing is practically finished.
The crop was a very satisfactory one.
Early rice Is ready to harvest, and late
is heading; the crop has improved and
Is now an average one, or better. Peas,
pastures aud late gardens are doing
well. All minor crops are very satisfactory.
A heavy rain damaged truck in
the Georgetown district, while in the
Charleston district more rain would be
beneficial. There is every indication of
heavy yields of all kinds of forage
crops. Late fruit is rotting extensively.
J. W. BAURER,
Section Director.
Negro Had a Fit.
Bamberg. Special?In what came
near resulting in a seriou saffair, David
Kinard, a young white man of this
town, was severely bruised and torn,
as well as choked by George Hasell, a
negro man, Saturday about 1 o'clock.
Mr. Kinard was sitting in the entrance
o' his father's livery stables, quietly
reading, when Hasell walked in and
without saying anything, Jerked the
chair young Kinard was sitting in,
and in so doing threw him out Kinard
lumped up and hit the negro, and then
they clinched, the negro falling on top.
They scuffled in this way for several
minutes, one being on top awhile and
then the other. Finally Hassell seised
Mr. Kinard by the throat and succeeded
in backing him against a buggy. It
was only after a desperate attempt
that the negro was thrown off, and
then Kinard called for help. In a very
short time a large crowd had gathered
around and were all trying to get the
negro, but he withstood the attempt*
with remarkable show of strength.
Finally he was carried to the city guard
house, where he is now.
Charged With Cow Stealing.
Spartanburg, Special.?The police
received telephonic information Monday
morning that a cow had been stolen
at Pacolet mills last night An hour
afterwards a negro named Arthur Salters,
was in the lockup. He had
brought the cow here and sold the
animal to Mr. Vandiver. a butcher. Mr.
Vandiver was carrying the* cow along
to a lot and had not paid the negro
who was waiting on Morgan square for
his money. Chief Dean identified the
ccw from the description he received
over the 'phone and Informed Mr. Vandiver.
A few minutes afterwards, Mr.
Vandiver and a police in citizens
clothes went to the Morgan monument
and arrested Salters. The owner of the
cow came to the city Monday afterno9n
and identified and carried home his
property.
Shot His Wife by Mistake.
Charleston, Special.?In Brunson,
Hampton county, Monday night J. B.
Bennett shot his wife. He was awakened
by a noise he supposed to be
rats, and, looking toward a window
In their bedroom, saw some one whom
he supposed to be a burglar. Drawing
his pistol from under his pillow,
he shot what proved to be his wife
through the heart. She died Instantly.
Mr. Bennett was Implicated in a
murder in 1895 and was pardoned on
condition that he should never return
to the State. His wife has been living
near Branson this year, and it
seems that Bennett has made visits to
her, and some of them quite prolonged.
Swept by Flood.
El Paso, Texas, Special.?Silver
City, New Mexico, was swept by a
flood Sunday night, after a severe
cloudburst in the mountains above.
No loss of life has been reported,
but it is believed that 50 homes were
washed away.
The Santa Fe railroad is washed
out in many places, and seven bridges
between Silver City and White War
ter aro out
7 3
IGOOD
? ROADS.
t
V
Some Sensible Remarks.
*^3e^OLONEL J. H. BRIGHAM, *
Assistant Secretary of Ag*
(. * liculture at Washington,
** 3GK is not only a giant in size, - <,
******* but he is a big man iu practical
common sense. In a recent speech
at a good roads convention be said
some things that everybody ought to
read. Among other good things he said:
"I see no reason why the general
government should not appropriate a
certain sum of money to be exoended
in this great work. Of coarse, the
States, counties and local communities
should be expected to co-operate. A
little aid from the general Government
would be a wonderful encouragement
to all the people.
"I hear a number of speakers here
saying that we must stir up Congress.
Now, I want to impress you with the. A
idea that we must first educate the
people. When the people are in favor
of national aid in building good roads
Congressmen will be in favor of it,
and not until then. They are not going
ahead of the people.
"When one of these great popular
movements gets started it acquires
wonderful momemtum. I heard a story i
of two farmers who stood beside a J
railroad for the first time. On thS ~
track stood an engine with a long train j
of heavy cars. Said one farmer to the
other: 'Jim, she'll never be able to 3
start it. It isn't possible.' Finally th*> y,.;|
steam was turned on, aud, with much
puffing, creaking and groaning, the {
great train began to move, very slowly,
then faster and faster, until finally, '
with a whirl of dust and a roar like
thunder, it swung out of sight around
a distant curve. Then the farmer, '.*?
drawing a long breath, remarked: 'Jim, >'j
bv the Eternal, thev'll never be able
to stop it' So will it be with the good " \|
roads movement. Once let it get thorougbly
started and nothing will be abl* '
to stop it or stand before it till its
great work is done.
"I see no reason why the general 1
Government should not reach oat it* '..J
strong arm and help the people of thl*
country get better means of common!- ;
cation. I want to see this movement f
pushed with all the energy that Is chaiw v
acteristic of the American peoplew ?
, When we undertake to do anything is . ^
this country we do it. and do It weQ. J
We have started out for better roads, . 1
and we are going forward on this line '
till we have as good roads as can ba
found anywhere in the world."
In these remarks Colonel Brighaa .
has sounded the keynote of the good
roads campaign. The masses of tbs Vj
people must Le aroused and educated. % }
Organization is the principal means' ?
to be employed. Conventions should /
be held, and associations should be or- $
ganized in all sections of the country. (J?i
It is not enough to get out a crowd of :
professional road reformers to make . \
speeches and pass resolutions. The ob.
ject in view is to Interest practical and 2
progressive men in all walks of life^
to arouse the indifferent, to convince
the objectors, and to get up a wave of c
popular enthusiasm for better roads.
Until this is done, no important results "
will be accomplished.
aaw*
West Virginia Highways.
For many years the natural resource* tWg
of West Virginia have remained nn
discovered, or, if known, hare * " 1
mained inaccessible. Many railroad*
have been constructed, and from the J
date of railroad construction dates the
beginning of the material prosperity;
of the State. The railroads of necessity
have reached' only small portion*
of the territory, and vast tracts have 1
been and must remain untouched by 'vj
them. Notwithstanding the development
that the railroads made possible,
it was fully recognized that there wer*
limitations to railroad communication*
and traffic. From this time forward,
it was argued, the importance of good;
roads will outrank the importance of
railroads in usefulness. There are im- 1
mense tracts of virgin soil ready to '
yield their fruits, but large sums of \
money are transmitted to other State* j
to pay for products that could be pro*
duced at home. Necessaries of life
are thus made uncertain and expen- jj
sive, with the result that rural districts
are being deserted and centre*
of population congested. It was stat- i
ed that real estate in the country if ;
depreciated and neglected because of .;
the deplorable condition of the public .
highways. It was emphasized that i
more than $1,000,000 is spent annual
ly in the useless attempt to maintain -:
the common highways of the Stat* ,,
and to keep them passable, but, as traffic
becomes heavier, the roads will be*-'
come worse and worse, even under -j
this enormous expenditure. The** \
roads are at all times steep and dif- '
ficult. and at certain seasons of the
year dangerous and practically impaa- \ j
sable. Tbe cost of maintaining these j
roads is only a small part of the expense
which their condition entails. '< j
Development is retarded, cultivation
is hindered, real estate is impaired ia^H
value, produces a short distance in th
country are practically unavailable^^
and it has been found that it is more J
economical to import these products I
by rail from neighboring States than <J
to haul them ten miles over such exe- . M
crable roads. The cost of living Is ||
thus increased. The cost of transpor- -M
tation hinders cultivation and devel- ; I
opment. increasing the price of neces- ^ I
sarios and diverting the resources of M
the citizens, the total cost of which It I
is impossible to estimate, bat which Jjl
certainly largely exceeds the $1,000,000 & I
which the taxpayers expend in ths
maintenance of these adverse condf-j73S
tions. . - - ? I