Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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WILL IT GO TO THE COURTS. The war tax matter relating to tbe ?tamp on express bills of lading, bas been settled for this State, so far as the railroad commissioners are concerned. They have ruled that the express com? panies mott pay this tax aod not the shipper?, and this ?iii stand no less the q Best ion ia taken to the coarta and the oom rn is ? on should be overruled. Tho sxprees people all over the conn try ?re kicking about this tax matter wherever the ralings or decisions have %*en aFerse to them, and there is little doubt bat that the whole ques? tion viii finally ?tod op in the highest court of adjudication, Judge To ley, o? Chieago, a judge of t&e State circuit of Illinois, in a oaae brought by Manufacturers' association, d?cid?e, last ?eek that the express oom* asugs aoeept packages for abipmeotvwith ibo reooipt daly stamped by themselves ?&d wiihoat adding the cost of the ?tamp to the regatar express rate. The .express companies ?iii, of oourse, ap* peal to the higher courts ; for, if this decision should stand aod oould be eeforeed, the companies claim they would have to boar the ?hole tax, which ?ill amount to about $ 3,000, OOO a year. They don't like this idea and are making a vigorous kick agaios? the riling of the Chieago judge, who is ac? counted a very able jurist. j Bot ?hat action the Southern Ex? press company will take in regard to ? she recent rultsg of the South Carolina i .railroad commissioners, is cot known yet, as the commission has grao ted the -company uotil the 25th instant before patting their decision into effect) Soot. Sadler, wheo he appeared be? fore the commission last week, could j -ass speak authoritatively at that time, feat his opinion was that bis company woold acquiesce io the ruling aod would make no fight. Bat until the "25th comes, it cannot be told whether tao express company will accept the decision of the South Carolina rail? road commission or appeal to the courts for a ruling, on the question. Aoopy of the following letter has been forwarded to Traffic Manager Laop of tho Soothern Exp ross compaoy hy tho railroad oom mission : &r CL. Loop, Chattanooga, Teoo. Dear Sir: We have received your favor of the 5th iost , also by the same mail (fte express tariff we requested yoe ce essoe. Allow us to thank yon for ?oar promptness tn this matter. Your Mr. Sadler had a conference wit& the board to-day relative to the decision of the board that the express companies should pay the ?ar revenue tex. After a fall discussion of the ?s*cier with Mr. Sadler, ?e cocld not cororcntto change the role the commis? sion bad adopted acd of wbieh we had 'ratified yo? io oar letter of the 3d inst. Wss are dearly of the opioioo that tfee framers of the la? intended the ex? preso companies to pay this tax, and wo ao ruled, so far as the business of Sooth Carolina is soocerned At ibo request of Mr. Sadler we ex Seeded :he time for your company to ?4oBt aod pat ioto effect the role of tais board until the 25th of Augast, 1898 The commission desire to ex? press their regreta that they could not mgree with the views expressed in your fetter, aod tbat their pense of public *?st? required them to maiotaio the po ??tcoa they have taken under our State law Hoping that you oan agree with us ?e making this a 6oal settlement of the j issue and that you wiii adopt our rule. B7 order of the board W. D Evans, Chairman. ?. P. Daooao, Secretary. Aug. 13, 1898 The fight between the Southern Express Company and the Railroad Commission over the stamp tax mat ter k oee*ne is to be prolonged, judg i?g from the tone of a letter receiv .ed yesterday from Traffic Manager Loop, of the express company Prom this letter, which is publish ?sd below, it is plain to see, although tfcere is rn? direct statement to that ?Sect, that the express company does ?ot intend to abide by the ruling of tfee railroad commission in requiring toe company to pay for the stamps OG bills of iading, and a resort to the ooortts now appears imminent Here "? Mr Loop*? letter : Southern Express Company, Office of Traffic Manager. Chattanooga, Tcao , August 15, 1898 Hoc. W. D Evans. Chairman Rail road Commission of South Carolina. Columbia, S C Dear Sir: I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the I2tb inst advising of tbe judgment of the rail? road commission of South Carolina <?o the stamp tax question I desire to protest against the same, ca the point that the State railroad commission should not undertake to s*ss upon the construction or appli? cation or enforcement of Federal Saws axing taxes. i have to contend that the jurisdic tica of the railroad commission is only over express rates, and that it is ?sot the duty of a railroad commis ?ion to direct bow the taxes of the United States government shall be .collected. Thia question is so serious to the ?express company that I am obliged to 61c this. Very truly yours, Chas L Loop, Traffic Manager. I ISLAND OP PORTO RICO. Toe Melting Loveliness of Its Tropical Landscape. Mr. Frederick A Ober? late com? missioner in Porto Rico of the Colum? bian Exposition, contributes to the August Century an illustrated article on -The Islaod of Porto Rico." Mr. Ober says : In the extreme northeast rises 'he highest peak of the central cordillera, in the Luquillo Sierra known as "el Yunque/*' or "The Anvil," variously estimated at from 8,600 to 4,500 feet in height. The hills are of lesser elevation toward the west and south? west, but the whole north central country is rugged and uneven Be? tween the ?pura from the main range lie innumerable secluded valleys, where the soil is of great fertility. The impressive features of the -land scape are the rounded summits of the multitudinous hilts, which leave the coast in constantly rising billows, that finally break against the cordil? lera vertebrae ; yet al! are cultivable, and cultivated to their very crests, though the higher mountain peaks are forest clad. More than 1,300 streams, it is said, of which number perhaps 40 or 50 attain the dignity of rivers, rise in the hills and seek the coasts, most of them running northerly, though the best harbors are in the west and south. But, notwithstanding the great river flow, portions of the isl? and in the southwest are afflicted with drought at times, owing to the precipitation of the northeast "trades" against the northern hills. The higher hills are clothed in the exuberant and diversified vegetation of the tropical forest, where tree ferns flourish and great gum trees and mountain palms tower alon At lower levels are the cedar and mo hogany, walnut and laurel, with many others noted for their useful woods Throughout the isiand are found those trees and shrubs valuable for their gums, as the marney, guaia cum and copal, while the li?t of med J icinal plants includes most of those, invaluable to our pharmacopoeias, which tropical America has given to the world - These are the silvestres, nature's wild children But of culti? vated plants theie is no species pecu? liar to the tropics that does not flour? ish herei In the littoral levels, be? tween the mountains and the sea, grows the sugar cane, which may be cultivated np to an altitude of 3,000 feet It was introduced here from Santo Domingo, having been brought to America either from Spain or the Canaries. The annual yield of sugar is estimated at about 70,000 tons. In these fertile lowlands, also, to? bacco does exceedingly well, and the annual production is said to be quite 7, 000 000 pounds. It may be cuUi tivated on the hilis, but the true mountain lover is the coffee, which does not do well below 600 feet, and is at its best 1,000 feet above the sea It was first brought here from Marti nique in 1722, and now yields to the extent of 17,000 tons annually Maize, the true Indian corn, is in i digenous, as is the yucca the aborig? inal "staff of life/' and both grow everywhere, as well as the pine apple, which is more reliable and more universa! than the peach cf our north ? temperate zone Colton and rice are found at nearly all elevations, the latter, which is the chief food of many laborers, being what is known as the mountain variety. Bananas and plantains are wonder fully prolific, bearing fruit in ten months from planting The piants virtually last sixty years, being equal ly long lived with the cocoa palm, which produces nuts in six or seven years, and thereafter during the space of an ordinary life, ita yield being reckoned an 100 nula a year. The annual product of bananas is given at 200,000.000, and of cocoa nuts 3,000,000 The entire range of tropical fruits is represented here, such as the guava, lime, orange, aguacate, sapodilla and avocado pear, while all the sub tropic vegetables may be raised, including those of the south temperate zone, auch, for in? stance as are grown in Florida The mineral kingdom has not been so exhaustively exploited aa the veg? etable, but more than traces have been found o' copper, coal and iron, as well as vast deposita of salt i The rivers at one time ran to the sea ! over beds of golden sand, and from the screams today (aa in the ?leighbor ing island of San Domingo, where the first American gold was discov ered) the natives wash out nuggets by the crude processes of that dis tant day when Agueynaba went prospecting with his false friend, Ponce de Leon i There are no native quadrupeds ! here larger than the agouti and the I armadillo, but birds are relatively numerous, with a few of fine song and some of brilliant plumage All domestic fowls do well here, and the great pastures of the northeast aod southeast support vast herds of cat? tle and horses, which suffice not only for the needs of the island, but are I exported to all parts of the Weat In? dies, being held in high esteem There aie- no poisonous reptilea to be feared, but insecte of questionable character are too numerous for com? fort This island, indeed, were a paradise without them Even with them the inhabitants seem to experi ence iit?ie trouble. The worst of these are the scorpions, centipedes, tarantulas, wasps, mosquitos, some species of sots, ticks, chigoes and Seas. The beat of a tropical climate like tbat of Poito Rico, which though rarely exceeding 90 degrees, is con tinaou8, is conducive to the breeding of insect pests of all sorts The Next War. Memphis Commercial-Appeal. Jost as the shadow of war is de? parting from the Uoited States it is thrown upon England Of course there are always rumors of war io Europe, and it is seldom that they amount to more than a passing breath; and several times Kassia and Eoglaod have been reported on the edge of hostilities. Not a great many years ago there was fair obaooe of a fight io the vicinity of the Ameer of Afghanistan; but territorial disputes are always susceptible of peace? ful settlement, and it is cot easy to set two nations at each other's throat, be* cause one of them may be encroaching ou the domain of a third nation But the present clash between England and Russia is of a different kind, and it involves a principle for which no doubt the people of England to a man would be ready to fight. -?)?> - <> ? . -Qc WHAT ENGLAND THINKS London, Aug 19 -The morning papers upon the proposed immense inrcease in the American navy. Tee Standard says: "Such a fleet ope? rating from Manila as a base would be able to exercise considerable influ ence upon the progress of events in Chinese waters, and added to the English China squadron and the Jap? anese navy would make a mighty ar? mament indeed " The Standard suggests that ibis consideration may give Russia a pause. The Daily Mail says : "The new programme is startling in its immen? sity The American navy jumps to fourth place among the world's fleets. It will not long remain fourth, nor wiil it be long before the United States will have a policy in China What the French Think. Paris, Aug. 19 -The American position in the far east ia attractmg great attention The Soleil says : "The Americans will qnadrople the value of the Philippines and Manila will become the rival of Hong Kong. The United States will have a pre ponderating situation in Chinese wa tera There is no market they desire more eagerly tbao the Chinese, though they have been forestalled by other powers, they will assuredly overtake their rivals, by the rapidity of the progresa in tbat region/' The Temps, while congratulating France upon the role of peacemaker, recognizes the fact that it is not al ways a good thing that a floger is between the hammer and the anvil The Temps says : "The United States will not bear a word of intervention and France bas no interest in com? promising herself gratuitously with a country evidently destined for a more active part m great international affairs It would be artless to count overmuch on Spanish gratitude. Therefore, the French watchword j should be "Messier* Point de Z?le." Mr. Carnegie's View. Mr. Andrew Carnegie, whose popu? lar book. 'Triumphant Democracy," give bim some standing as a thought? ful srudent or our institutions, bas very pronounced opinions on the Philippine question He says : '"It is the parting of toe ways We bave a continent to populate and de velop ; there are only 23 persons to the tquare miie io the United States England has 370, Belgiam 571, Ger inauy 250 A titbe of the oost of maintaining our sway over thc Philip? pines would improve our internal j waterways ; deepen our harbors ; build the Nicaraguan canal : ooustruot a wa terway to the ocean from the great lake* ; an inland canal along the At? lantic seaboard ; a oana! across Florida, saviog 800 miles distance between New York and New Orleans ; connect Lake Michigan with the Mississippi ; deepen all the harbors upou tbe lakes ; build a canai from Lake Erie to the Allegheny river ; slackwater through movable dams the entire "length of tho Ohio river to Cairo ; thoroughly improve the lower and upper Mississippi and all our j seaboard harbors All these enter j prises would be as nothing io compar i isoo to thc sums required for the ex? periment of possessing the Philippine islands, 7.000 miles from our shores. If tbe object be to render our republic powerful among Dations, can there be any doubt as to which policy is thc bet i ter ?" These are word9 of wisdom. While there is considerable clamor from some politicians and newspapers for the po^ession of the Philippines, the longer the proposition is before us tbe more do we believe that the sober common sense of the country will condemn it. Mr. Carnegie is right. To take and oc? cupy the Philippines would cost moro than it wculd come to.-Atlanta Jour? nal. --^mmw-? ? ? ? -Mn Success-Worth Knowing. 40 years' success in the South, proves Hughe's Tonic a great remedy for Chilis and all Mala? ria! Fever9. Better th>in Quinine. Gu?ran? te? d, try it At Druggists :0c. and $1.00 bottles. x 1 od. Come acd see us before buying cr trading We c;u olease voa wita a Wbit<-Randie. ? Mustering Volunteers Out. j Washington, August 17.-Ar mid? night tonight the President announced bili decidion to master oat of the service from 75.000 to 100.000 of the volun? teers Those to be discharged wiii ID dade all the tranches of the service, infantry, artillery and cavalry. From a prominent official of the ad? ministration it is understood to be the desire of the President to ascertain the wish of the volunteer troops themselves ap to remaioiog in the service. One or two organizations have already indi? cated a desire to leave the service a? soon as the government can reasonably do without them. They are composed largely of business and corking men, whose private interests are suffering by reason of their absence from home. So far as the interests of the government will permit, it is believed that the President, in the metering out of the volunteers, will accommodate himself to the desires of the men. It may be some time before the or? ganizations to be mustered out will be disignated, but the reduction in the vol? unteer force wiii be made as soon as practicable. The Second Regiment. Senator McLaurin's telegram re? moves all doubt as to the fate of the Second South Carolina regiment. The President has graciously extended tbe time and made all other concessions asked of him, one of the mo<t import? ant being the mustering ita of compa nies having 80 men This action of President McKinley redounds to his sense of justice aod will be appreciated by the people of South Carolina. The condition of affairs at Camp Fiizbugh Lee U briefly this : There are now on band about 900 men, with re? cruits coming io rapidly, and appear anees are favorable for the regiment being completed and mustered into service within a few days. Allowing for ail conceivable mishaps, it should be ready to roport for duty inside of of a week. President McKinley bas silenced the charge that be has been discriminating against the South, though io strict fact, there never was any ground for such an accusation. He allows South Carolina ample time to complete ber quota, for the obvious reason that he wishes no State to fail in its duty to the govern ment. The Seoood regiment will accordingly be completed and it may see service abroad. Yesterday's dispatches stated that eacn command would be allowed to express its preference for remaining in the service or of being mustered out. The Sooth Carolina troops will, accord? ing to thia, not be mastered out, unless they so desire.-State, August 19. Uncle Sam a Buccaneer. The Vienna press is inundated with a fresh iot of ornaments on the Spanish American eituatioo. The constitutional organ, the Reich- j swehr, denounces with great virulence Uncle Sam's "speculative and lucrative war business,'' wbioh, it says, has I proved to be a paying concern. Your Uncle Samuel is described as striking a bargain unprecedented io its brilliancy in the annals of warfare Be is said to have conquered territory larger in the ag? gregate than the dual empire of Austria Hungary, including Bosnia and Herzegonvin, and all for a mere song, and all this, it is said, bas been effected through inherent perfidy and under l false pretext. Greedy of further conquest this young Atlas of the closing of the 19th century bas taken the world on his shoulders and has chased from his presence the ghost of petty militarism which for gen? erations bad haunted him as a trades? man, and, filled with a conciousness of his own might, he assumes the respon sibility of an aggressive imperialism, and, armed and defiant, aspires to uni? versal ascendancy. Children and Newspapers. From The Sun. It is noticeable these days bow many children read the newspapers If you can tell this frcm their conversation, you have still plainer proof of it io the fact that so many children are to be i seen reading newspapers Youngsters j who formerly spent time upon the street cars, suburban trains and ferries in doing nothing, are now quite as up to their ears in newspapers as are their ! elders. The war is, of course, re? sponsible for it lo both young and and old it has quickened an interest in life and in all that relates to life, and both young and old are eager for news of it. It is a curious thing to see a little fellow in knickerbockers spelling out words which he barely knows the meaoiog of, but which, for all that, have a new and vital significance in that they have something to do with war. Just nearing the news "read aloud" or geing told about it won't do ; the youngsters want to get it for them solves at first band. It used to be that when a family party boarded a ferry boat one paper was considered ample for the crowd. Today every chick and child of them demands bis individual paper, and, what's mere, be sits and reads it with all the interest of tbe grown up - trw mm? - London, August 19 -Thc l>ai*y Mail's Odessa correspondent says he hears on iocontes?ble authority that Russia has opened pour patio with Spain for "be cession of a coaling station io the Philippines. Oh, How Thankful Pain Was Maddening and Hope Haci Been Abandoned -Wonder? ful Results of Purifying the Slood. " A very severe pain cams in my left knee, which grew worse and worse, and finally a sore broke out above the knee. It discharged a great deal and the pain ! from my thigh down was maddening. Large, hard, purple spots appeared on my leg. I suffered in this way for years, and gave up all hope of ever bein : eur---J. i My wife waa reading of a cue li xe mme | cured by Hood's ??ar?a;).. U, a.:i she ? advised me to try it. I be i t\l:ing it ! and when I had used a ;"?.; bo.?lea I ; found relief from my su.Veri::g. Ca, how thankful I am for tai-; roi! i ! I am Stronger than I have cvr : i my Hi's, j I am in the bes: o? h. : >., hive a ?.o >c J appetite and am a r - : : . .-i aiio^ctiirr.*' j J. P. Moons, Lisb ? ' , ;.; H" . Garsa- j -j -..J parilla j Isthe best-in f tot thc Ono Tn.-? lilood f uritier. ! Hood's Pills cure all liver ilis. iJ.caats. 50 YEARS^ EXPERIENCE TRADE MARKS DESIGNS COPYRIGHTS &C Anyone sending a sketch and description may crlckly ascertain our opinion free whether an invention is probably patentable. Communica? tions strictly confidential. Handbook on Patenta sent free. Oldest asrency for securing patents. Patents taken through Munn & Co. receive special notice, without charge, in tbs Scientific American. A handsomely illustrated weekly. Largest cir cnlation of any scientific journal. Terms. $3 a year; four months, $L Sold by all newsdealers. MUNN&Co.36,BroadT'NewM Branch Office, 625 F SU Washington, D. C THE BANK OF SUMTER, SUMTER, S. C. City and County Depository Traosacts a general Backing business, ajso has A Savings Bank Department. Deposits of Si ?ind upwards received. In? terest allowed at the rate of 4 per cent, per annual. Payable quarterly, on first days ot JanuarT, April, Julv nod October. W F. B HAYNSWORTH, W F. RHAMS, Cashier. President. Jan 13. JESSE A. CLIFTON, M. D. -PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON Office over Hughsoo's Dru* S'ore. MONAGHAN BLOCK SUMTER, S. C. April 13-4t. Tie Largest and Most Complete Estalstat M Geo. S. Hacker & Son, -MANUFACTURERS OF DOORS, SASH, BLINDS, Moulding & Building; Material. j office and VTarerooms, King, oppositej Can non Street, CHARLESTON, S. C, JZ3?"" Purchase our make, which we guaranrt superior to any sold South, and thereby save money. J Window and Fancy Glass a Specialty j October 16-o NOTICE OF REGISTRATION. ! THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, SUMTER COUNTY. OFFICE OF SuPEavisos CF REGISTRATIO.H, SUMTES COUNTY. SuatTEa, S. C., May 1, 1897. Notice is bereen ???ven ?hat in accordance .?ith an Act of the '-eneral Assembly, the : books for the regis^rntion of all ieeaily qua!;- ; lied voters, and for the issuinc of transfers, j &c , will be open wt the court house, between the hours of 9 o'clock a. m , .-?od 3 o'clock p rv., on the thst Monday of each month, and for three successive da?s, until thirty days before the next gensT! election. Minors who shall become of age during that period of thirty days, shall be ('^titled to j registration before the bocks are c'osed, if ; otherwise aua?Sed E. F. BURROWS, Chairman. T. D DcBOSE. Cierk. J. M. KNIGHT, May 18. Supervisors of Registration ARE YOU NEEDING AN IRON SAFE? HAVING BEEN APPOINTED GEN? ERAL AGENT for the Alpine Firs and Burglar Proor^ Safe Company. I am prepared to offer libera! terms to those who are sn need of a good swf? For ?iriCfS ?nd terms nd-ire?S j. A. RENNO, \\> h 24 Sumter, S. C CUHtS WHERE ALI ELSE tAiLS. Best Cough Syrup. Tastes Good. C in time. Sold by drusrsists. N : CON S"UWPTIO MAW WANTED. rpHE MANAGEMENT of tb? Equitable _|_ Liff Assurance Society io thia territory ia desirous of securing tbe services of A mau of character ard ability tc represent its inter eats, with Souter as headquarters. Tbe right man wil! tv thoroughly educated to tbe science of hf? insurance and tbe art of suc? cessful soltti'ing There is no ??aiiness or profession, not requiring capttn?, wbicn is more remunerative tb?n a life agency coo ducted with energy and ?b?ity Correspond? ence with men wbo desire to secure employ? ment. ?cd ar?? xrobitiou? to attain ^romin-nce io the proKssion, ii invited. W. J. R0DDEY, Manag-r. March 23-tf Rock Bill, 8. C. BEAUTY HATH CHARMS and all the charms which beau? ty likes best to don are shown in our grand display of fash? ionable jewelry for this season. Jewels like these would en? hance the charms of the most fascinating belle, and surely no fair one would despise such brilliant aids to her beauty. Like personal loveliness, they conquer admiration on sight ; thc j score new victories at ev? ery inspection. Those who look over our stock do not willingly stop with examina? tion. Beauty may now be made easily irresistible by a few judicious purchases from our display of up to date jew? elry. L. W. FOLSOM, Jeweler and Optician, SIGN OF THE BIG WATCH, Oct. IS. L m & soi Fire Insurance Agency, ESTABLISHED 1866. Represent, among other Companies : LIVERPOOL & LONDON 4 GLOBS, NORTH BRITISH * MERCANTILE HOME, of New York. UNDERWRITERS' AGENCY, N. Y. LANCASTER INSURANCE CO. Capital represented $75,600,000. Feb 2* Land Surveying. MR, H. D. MOISE, will give prompt at? tention to calls for surveying and platting land Can be found H: his office, next door to office of Lee and Moise, Sumter, S. C. Nov 13. HOMEY, New Crop 1898, Choice Extracted Honey, by the gallon or less quantity. For sale at my residence, or orders may be left office of the Watchman and Southron, i\. G. Osteen. HARB Y Ss CO., WHOLESALE BROKERS, -AND Cotton Storage Warehouse PROPRIETORS. ?P-TOWN OFFICE: COURT HOUSE SQUARE, 1,000 Tons High Grade Am moniated Fertilizer, 1,000 Tons Acid with Potass 500 Tons Dissolved Bone. 500 Tons German Kainit. 400 Tons C. S. Meal, For Sale. We are prepared to meet any and all prices for STAND? ARD GOODS. Get our prices before purchasing. Respectfully, KARBY & CO. Dec. 16. Order Your PROVISIONS AND GROCERIES FROM GEO. W. STEFFENS & SON Wholesale Agents, Charleston, S C -Agents for MOTT'SICIDEE BED SEAL CIGABS, AND D0V.3 HAMS