Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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THE SUMTER WATCHMAN, Established April, 1850. "Be Just and Fear not-Let all the! Ends thou Aims't at, be thy Country's, thy God's and Truth's.'' THE TRUE SOUTHRON, Established Jone,12 6 Consolidated Aug. 2,1881. tk ffl?fam at? iwaftran. I J.J Published Erery Wednesday, -BY 3>?\ Or. Osteen?? SUMTER, S. C. TERMS : ?1 50 per annum-in advance. ADVERTISEMENT: j One Square first insertion.Si 00 j Every subsequent insertion. 50 Contracts for three months, or longer will be made at reduced rates. All communications which subserve private interests will be charged for as advertisements. Obituaries and tributes of respect will be charged for. Decrease the Royalty. The Annual Report of Inspec? tor Jones on the Mines. Business in Phosphate Rock is Very Dull. The Price too .Low to Pay a Profit. One Large Com? pany Suspends Operations In? definitely, and Otters Reduce their Force. COLUMBIA, December 31.-From the report o? Phosphate Inspector Jones it appears that the phosphate industry is in a very much demoralized con? dition. Indeed, Mr. Jones concludes that "the outlook of the business is gloomy in the extreme." The re? port goes on to show as far as possible the reasons for the depression, and how the condition should be met Mr. Jones recommends a reduction in the royalty to twenty-five cents per to?. The report will not only be of great importance to the lower tier of counties, engaged in phosphate min? ing, but to the people of the State at large, for the special reason that the revenue from ilie phosphate royalty goes to the sinking fuod for the liquidation of the State bonds. The report reads: I have the honor to present here? with my annual report of the opera? tions and conditions of the State's phosphate industry for the year com? mencing September 1, 1894, and ending August 31, 1895 During the year the raining operations have been carried on by the following companies : Coosaw Mining Company-Five dredges and wash boats, sixteen lighters, forty tonging flats and five tug boats. Farmers' Mining Company-Three dredges, sixteen lighters, forty tong? ing flats and one tug boat. Beaufort Phosphate Company One dredge, thirteen lighters* seventy ? tonging flats and one tug boat. Carolina Mining Company-One I dredge, twenty-two lighters and two tug boats. W. Y. Fripp-Eight longing flats James O'llear-Suspended. John C. Nelson-Suspended. James Reid-Included in Farmers' Mining Company. At the beginning of the year, Sep? tember 1,1894, the above companies had fully recovered and rehabilitated their mining plants wrecked by the cyclone of August 26, 1893, and have added saving devices so as to reduce the cost of raining lo a mini? mum, and are to-day in better condi? tion to mine and handle phosphate than ever before. The total number of tons of rock shippad for the year commencing September 1, 1894. and ending August 31, i 895, was 174,400.25 100 tons. Royalty paid the State on ship? ments, $97,200.13; royalty addi? tional for excess of value,$457.07 Total royalties for the year, $87,657. 20. Statement of number of tons mined during the year is estimated at 201. 400 tons. The number of tons on hand September 1, 1895, is estimated at 35,857 tons. The outlook of the business is gloomy in the extreme. Prices have sunk to a figure never before reached, and the greatest discouragement pre? vails both in South Carolina and Florida, lt is impossible to get in Europe now even as high as 6d a unit ; the price varying from 5d to 5Jd. At these prices, after paying royalty, and with the most favorable rates of freight, the mining compa? nies are unable to net more than $2 per ton for their rock. This does not enable them to live. The strict? est economy is being practiced, wages are being reduced, saving de? vices ate being adopted, and the cost of mining has been reduced io a minimum. But even with this, unless there is an improvement in the market the phosphate companies must stop. Carolina Mining Company, repre? senting a large amount of English capital, has suspended operations in definity. All hands have been dis? charged. Its efficient president, Mi Brotherhood (the largest individua stockholder in the company,) has res iirued, and his r?signation has been accepted The plant is laid up per? manently, and no one but a caretaker is at the extensive works hitherto so active and thare is no pros- j peet of an early resumption of j work by tin's company. The other companies are mining, but with reduced loree. The Coosaw Company, th largest of them all, have laid up two of their dredges, thrree tug boats, and suspended their hand picking department. The other companies have reduced their working force to a minimum. Reasons for the depressed condi? tion of trade are not hard to find in the first place, the depressed condi? tion of agriculture both in this coun? try and in Europe has limited to a i very great extent the demand for crude phosphate rock as a basis for the manufacture of fertilizers But a more potent cause, perhaps, is to be found in the opening of new mines, which have come into fierce compe? tition with Carolina phosphate rock. The competition of Algerian phos? phate is a most disturbing element and is creating much uneasiness amongst the American miners. Tennessee phosphates continue to be actively worked, and the produc? tion is steadily increasing. This rock needs no washing or drying, as is the case with Carolina rock. Its analysis is perfectly satisfactory, and it is used largely by the interior points, companies situated in upper Georgia, Tennessee and other points, who obtain from it thoroughly satis factory results. It fills the place of the South Carolina rock perfectly, and is a very formidable competitor. The total shipments of phosphate from Florida for the year 1895 aggre? gated 515,878 tons Florida contin? ues to increase her production Whilst a great many of the com? panies there have ceased operations, still enough have been left to keep up a very large production. bREXCH PHOSPHATES. Within the last lew weeks a new discovery of phosphate beds in the Somme district of France has been made. It is in a powdery form, and has the further advantage that the bed of phosphate lies nearer to the English Channel, and therefore the freight expenses to the shipping port will be much lower than from the other beds. It may therefore be ex? pected that Somme phosphate will become a stronger competitor in the phosphate market tuan it has been for the last few years Lai ge deposits have been discov? ered in Venezuela, and shipments have already been made from those mines, which, when tested, show that they are all high grade. Under these conditions I deem it my duty to urge upon the board and the Legislature the question of a re? duction in royalty charged by the State. One of the largest and most substantial companies has absolutely suspended work because it is impos? sible to continue. The other com? panies are going on a very much re? duced scale of operations, and it is simply a question of time when they too will have to suspend unless there is an improvement in the phosphate market. The State then will be de? prived of all its royalty, and not only that, but the industry will receive such a black aye that it will be very hard to revive it again. Under these circumstances I do not hesitate to express the opinion that the interest of the State will be best subserved by reducing the roy? alty to 25 cents a ton until such time as the market shall improve and a higher royalty could be paid. At present it is impossible to predict how long the companies now mining will be able to continue their opera? tion. It would be the wise policy on the part of the State to make this reduction and enable them to con? tinue. It is a matter of great regret that no brighter report can be made than that which has been submitted, but the facts must be started as they are, and these are the facts. The de? pressed condition of the phosphate trade has been known for several years ; it seems now to have reached a climax. Denver, Colo, January 1.-The railroad race between two Denver newspapers to get their New Year edition into Cripple Creek and Lead? ville this morning resulted in disas? ter The contest was over two roads, the Midland and the Denver and Rio Grand. The train over the lat? ter road, shortly after 8 o'clock, when within four miles of Leadville, and going very fast, jumped the track on a curve, the engine crushing into the Malta station and earring h en tirely away. Harry Hartman, the fireman, was instantly killed, and ! John Baker, the engineer, died within an hour. Both ?rains were nearing their haven, only a few miles apart, when the accident occured. The Epworth Orphanage, Colum? bia, S. C., will be opened with tweu- ? ty children. | Atlanta's Exposition. Comes to an End It Cost the City Just $200,000 Net. ATLANTA, Ga. December 31.-The final day of the Exposition opened with a clear sky. During the early morn? ing the temperature was vpry low, but after the suu rose the weather mode? rated rapidly, au? the cars to the Ex? position were all filled. Tho grounds were thronged with people, the build? ings full Many cf the exhibitors had a small harvest in the sale of souvenirs, while the Chinese village auctioned off its bric-a-brac. The exhibits were ali I'D good shape arid were not disturbed until after dark. During the afternoon the camels and donkeys of Cairo street were driveu out, but most of the places cn the Midway were wide open and'do ;22 a good business. Although the crowd was one of the largest during December there were no ceremonials. There had been so much of ceremony heretofore that it was determined to let the last day be a free and easy affair, so that the visitors might make thc best of their time in seeing the exhibits. This evening as d-^rk came on the beau? tiful illumination was given, and the electric fountain for the last time dis? played its charms. Although lhere was a large crowd the best cf order prevailed, add everybody seemed to be in a good humor. The directors held a meeting at 4 o'clock and transacted business of some importance, mainly directed tov7ard fire and police protection for the grounds and buildings To-night at 6 10 a force of experts began packing up the pictures in the art gallery, and at the same time a similar work was begun on thc Government exhibits in the mines and forestry building It is expected that the work of picking and shipping exhibits in the Government building will proceed rapidly. In the manu? facturers' building the foreign exhibi? tors will attempt to dispose of their wares as far as possible before packing ?p. Ic the transportaban building Capt. E. L. Tyler, chief of transporta? tion,, will have an office and look after the removal of exhibits. By resolu? tion of the board of directors all sala? ries and wages cease to-night, but the president is empowered to make new contracta for such limited help as may be necessary to wind up the affairs of the company. One turn stile at the main entrance will be ?eft open, but an admission fee will be charged to keep out stragglers who would interfere with exhibitors in packing their goods. The Pennsylvania building will be formally turned over to the Piedmont Driving Club by Commissioner Keenan very soon. The.New York State building will also pass into thc hands cf thc club, both of these structures having been erected on the grounds of that organization. The Illinois building has not been disposed of, but will probably be sold. The Massachusetts buiiding bas already been presenred by tue com? missioners to the Atlanta Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revo? lution. The property agent of the Exposition Company has already begun to gather scattered furniture and miscellaneous movable property to places of safety, and a salvage company has been organ? ized with Mr. T. B. Neal, president of oue of the Atlanta banks, at its head. Mr. Inman, chairman of the finance committee, said that the Exposition, when all the debts are paid, will, have cost Atlanta about two hundred thou? sand dollars, or less than 10 per cent of the money expended on it. This in? cludes thc original stock subscription and the appropriation. This result is regarded as very satisfactory. It is ex? pected that the immediate result to Atlanta in money expended here by Exposition visitors amounts to five mil? lion dollars, and that the ultimate bene? fit to the city and the cotton States is immeasurably beyond this or any other conservative figure that could be made. Salisbury's Blunder. LONDON, Jan. 1-The Chronicle will print to-morrow an article saying it has been learned ou the high? est authority that Earl Granville in 1885 virtually concluded with . President Baleo a treaty con? taining an arbitration clause cover- , ing the Venezulan international boun? dary dispute. The Marquis of Salis? bury, however, on coming to power later in the same year, virtually can- ' celled this cause by limiting the pro- 1 visions of the treaty to commercial ' questions. Nothing could have been more unfortunate, says the Chronicle, ' inasmuch as the boundary dispute * was on the evo o? a permanent settle nient. The Chronicle adds that it is ' convinced by careful researches that {here is debatable land both north ( and south of the Schomburgk line, . and that it would be a grave error lo ;( imagine that a rigid insist?t.co on ! the Schomburgk line and a declara- i ' lion that there is no ground for ar- | 1 bitration constituting the essence of |c the English case. ] May the Supreme Court Sit ? The Qustion Raised as to its j Constitutionality. _ The question raised in Columbia the other day as ro the power of tbe Supreme Court of South Carolina, as it is now constituted, to hear and decide cases, has awakened a great deal of in? terest in Charleston. MaDy important cases in the 1st circuit are to come be? fore the Conn within a few days, and everyone has been interested to learn what the answer to the question raised would be. Solicitor W. St Julian Jervy, wboe was a member of the Constitutional Convention, and who will be engaged ia many of the cases which are soon to be brought before the Court, has prepared for The News and Courier the following opinion on the question raised. It will be seen that Solicitor Jervey quotes from the old and the new Constitution, and then gives authorities* supporting a construction of the passage which makes the sitting of the Court valied : 1. "The Supreme Court shall consist of a Chief Justice and three Associate Justices, any three of whom shall con? stitute a quorum for the transaction of business." Constitution 1895, Article 5, Section 2. "The present Chief Justice and As sociate Justices of the Supreme Court are declared to be the Chief Justice and two of the Associates of said Court as herein established, until the time for which they were elected shall expire, and the General Assembly at its next session snail elect the third Associate Justice and make suitable provision for accomplishing its classification above described." Constitution 1895, Arti? cle 5, Section 2. The provision under the old Consti? tution was very similar. "The Supreme Court shall consist of the Chief Justice and the two Asso-ci ate 'Justices, auy two of whom shall constitute a quorum." Constitution 1868, Article 4, Section 3. "While, therefore, the section un? der consideration does declare in gen? eral terms that the Supreme Court shall consist of a Chief Justice and two As? sociate Justices, this general declaration is qualified by the words immediately followi?g, in the same sentence, 'any two of whom shall constitute a quorum,' the plain meaning of which is that while ?be number composing the full court is three, yet any two of the three named shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business com? mitted to such tribunal, The language being 'any two' of the three officials just named, we are unable to conceive by what authority a Court could con? strue such langu?ge as cocfioiog the provision tc eocic particular two of the three; for that would entirely destroy the force of the word 'any,1 and render necessary the interpolation of some other words not found in the section." Williams vs. Benet, 35 S. C., 153. "It iscootended herein that this caD not be a constitutional quorum without there is in existence the full number of members provided for by the constitu? tion, If this reposition be true as ap? plied to the Supreme Court, we see no reason why it should not be true of every other body of which a number less than the whole is legally declared to be a quorum ; and we think we may safely venture to say that such a propo? sition as to any other body has never been accepted, and never could be ac? cepted as correct, without paralyzing to some extent at least the arm of at least two of the great departments of the Government. Such a proposition rests upon the fundamental misconception of the term quorum and the purpoej e or which it is used. The very purpose in providing for the transaction of busi? ness of any given body or tribunal by a quorum is to prevent the stoppage of the public business when a portion of the whole membership may from any cause fail to attend afc the time ap? pointed, and whether such failure re? sults from death or some temporary cause cannot affect the question. The mischief intended to be provided against is the failure of the whole num? ber to attend; and we do not see bow 1 it can possibly make any difference whether such failure results from one i cause or another." Williams vs. Benet, 35 S.C., 154 "The Constituyen io the section re- ; ferred to bas invested any two of :oe Justices with full power to discharge \ ill of thc functions o?' this Court." 1 Sullivan vs. Speights, 14 S. C., 358. ' lu this case the Court was tot full, ? because no election had been held to J ill the vacancy caused by Judge Has- ' leWa resignation. Followed v? Ault nan vs. Utsey, 35 8. C., 596. The present condition is almost pre? cisely similar. A tribunal to consist of 'our officers ia instituted . three are de? bared (;> constitute a quorum ; three ire duly installed in office and the ourth is net in oliicc simply because no Section ha?i yet been held to lill the va iancy. 2. Special provision has been made to prevent any hiatus in the function of ! the Court.. ''The provisions of all laws which are inconsistent with this Constitution j shall cease upon irs adoption, excep j that, ail laws which are inconsistent j with such provisions of this Constitu- 1 tion as requires legislation to enforce ? them shall remain in force until such I legislation is bad." Constitution 1895, Article 17, Section 2, paragraph 3. "If theiefore, it is held that the new Court is not yet constituted it is submit? ted that the old Court is empowered to continue tts functions. The laws or? ganizing the old Court are inconsistent with the provisions of the new Consti? tution on the same subject ; but they come within the exception as requiring legislation, i. e., action on the part of the Legislature in electing the fourth member of the Court to enforce them, and, therefore, they must "remain in force until such legislation is had." News and Courier. The Crisis Not Passed. LONDON, Dec. 31.-The Westmins? ter Gazette s fy s : "We must not de? lude ourselves into thinking that the Venezuelan crisis is passed There is a surprising depth and strength of feeling behind Cleveland. Lord Salis? bury cannot retreat from his position of refusing to submit the Venezuelan dis pate to arbitration, and the Americans will not retreat from the staud they have taken." The Gazette, in conclusion, advises that both agree to leave the whole mat? ter to a board of conciliation. The countries would not be bound to accept the decision of such a board, it says, but the chance of reaching an accept? able compromise would be very great. Buildings Crumbled. And Many Lives Crushed Out in the Ruins. ST. LOUIS, Jany. 2 -Just at 1 o'clock this afternoon, a series of terrific explosions laid waste in the vicinity of Second and Vine streets, when? printing houses and allied trades ate numerous. Just after the clock struck, a boiler in George F. Merritze's printing office, basement of No. 208 North Third Street, just across the alley from the storage and commission house of H. B. Grubb i exploded. In the rear of the Grubb establishment a large quantity of fire- j works was stored and a second ex- ? plosion occurred, followed immedi- j ately by a third that lifted the Grubb establishment and dropped it in a ; mass of wreckage. The explosion caused general consternation and every window for three blocks away was broken. A large plate glass window in thc Merchants' exchange, four blocks away, was shattered and the traders stampeded Up to G o'clock to night five bodies have been recovered ; four persons are missing as far as reported to the police and the list of injured num? bers 19. Philadelphia, January 3 -A strike has been declared on the lines of the Union Traction Company, to go on this morning. Rome, January 2.-Important docu? ments have been found in the archives of the Vatican relating to Catholic missions io Venezuela. These docu? ments show that the missions within the territory claimed by Great Britain were included io the diocese of Caracas prior to Great Britain's acquiring Guinana. Edgefield. Jan. 2 -Dr. F. W. P. Butler left Edgefield for New York to? day io response to a telegram from Ex Senator Butler bearing the sad intelli? gence that Lieut M. C. Butler. United States army, lies dangerously ill in that city with appendices. An operation will be performed. The many friends here and throughout the State of this meritorious and popular young officer can only hope fer his recovery. Governor Evans expects to recom? mend that action be taken by the Gene? ral Asssembly relative to the Chicago Cotton Exposition. He has been ask? ed for the co-operation of the State and is of the opinion that South Carolina should do everything it can to help ! Chicago in its efforts io establish closer relations between the South and West, rle thinks fhat Chicago can count on ;he General Assembly <ioing whatever t is called'upon to do in this matter and ie wishes to see the St./?c well repro? bated at thc Chicago Cotton Exposi ion. i .' _ ? i i?uiu..-tj?-aL!..ijg.jM^fA.a'j.gum,v.*jm.'wzi H-aa?!1 - 1 SB IB Hiebest cf all ir. Leavening rc; War in the Transvaal Dr. Jameson Sletand Defeat? ed by the Boers. Capetown, Jan. 2.-The Capetown Times has a dispatch from Prstoria, dated yesterday saying that the latest news fro:? Krugerdorf was to the effect that there had been fighting between the Boers and the force led by Dr. Jameson, aod that the latter had suf? fered heavily. The British agent at Pretoria, tele? graphing under date of yesterday, says that he had seen General Joubert, com? manding general of thc Boer forces, who reported that Dr. Jameson had been driven from several positions. Twenty-two burghers were wounded and 23 prisoners were taken. At that time no forces had moved out of Johan? nesburg to assist Dr. Jameson. It is reported that a further British South Africa company force is being moblized for the purpose of entering the Transvaal. A Kaffir command is forming on the Becbuanalacd frontier of the Orange Free State with the ob? ject of assisting the Boers should such assistance be needed. A later dispatch from Pretoria that Dr. Jameson was surrounded hy a large force cf Boers near Krugersdcrf and was obliged to surrender. Joseph Chamberlain, sec? retary of state for the colonies has scot a dispatch to Governor Robinson saying: I regret that Dr. Jameson's disobe dienee has led to a deplorable loss! of life. Do your best to secure generous treatment of the prisoners and the wounded. London, Jan. 2.-The followiog dispatch was received late this evening from Sir Hercules Robinson, governor of Cape Colony : "Capetown, Jan. 2. A messenger overtook Dr, Jamemes 10 miles the other side of the Elans river. The messenger brought back a verbal mes? sage that the dispatch received by Dr. Jameson would be attended to. The force was saddling up, and at once pro ceded eastward. Dr. Jameson thus re? ceived and disregarded both my mes? sages. Sir Jacobus De Wet, the British agent at Pretoria, telegraphs this morn? ing that it would have been impossible for him to have gone to Dr. Jameson. If it had been possible his misi?n would have been futile, as the fighting com? menced at 4 o'clock yesterday after? noon.'' London. Jan. 2.-A dispatch from Johannesburg, South Africa, dated Dec. 30 says the people there are great? ly escited. Numbers of Boers are to be seen riding through the streets, which adds greatly to th" public ex? citen*.'- it. A performance- of Othello eas given o:? Dec 30, at the Standard theatre in Johannesburg, which was crowded with people of al! ciasses. The orchestra played "Volkslied,'' the i;ci.:ionai air of the Transvaal, whereat tbs ;:udienco drawneu the music with groans ard bises. The orchestra than played "God parc the Queen." when the peo? ple rose and cheered. A mass meeting of Australian residents of Johannes? burg has beeu held, at which thc chair? man prope.-cd that infantry and moustc-d compaoies be raised to resist the Boers. Scottdale, Pa , January 1.-No? tices of an advance ir, wages have been posted at all the Rainey plants. Rainey wi? pay the Frick scale of wages, except in one instance, in which the Frick rate will be higher. The Rainey employees ate satisfied with the turn affairs has iaken and there is no prospect of any trouble. Atlanta, Ga., January 1.-Many of the sidewalk fakirs, who have been selling souvenirs of the Exposition, are going to Cuba to join the insur? gents. More than one hundred have left here this week They propose to fight until the insurgent army enter.e Havana, and then they will sell "Liberty" badges Thereseems to be a large number of adventurers pj.68ing through here for Cuba. - I M I tl - How To Prevent Croup. Some reading that will prove interesting to younjr mothers. How to guard agp.inst the disease. Croup is a terror ro young: eathers ana to post them concerning tte cnuse, first symp? toms and treatment is the object of this i .-?m ? The origin of croup is a common edd. Children who are subject to it take cold v? y easily and croup is almost sure *o foi '; v. The first symptom is hoarseness; this is s..:n followed by a peculiar rough eo?jr'i, whir > '? ?asily recogr.?zed ?nd will never re fcrg< by one who bas heard it. The :':;:ie to a< -2 when the child first becomes hoarse. :f Jhumberlain's Cough Rer ?edy ia ly given ill tendency 'o croup will econ u??>*pp?Hr. Sven after thc croupy cough !.. . dr?V*!opi:d t. will preveo: the attack. Thert is :::> da^er n giving this remedy for it contains n.otb ng njurto?s. For s*!e by Dr. A. J. China. iifctwiiidi<?ugja.nraigjtaii aaac vj^iCTnsB^TLivaazr.isaciA :r.-Intent U. 3. Cov'c Rcnort Wt PURE