Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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~ WEDNESDAY, JANUARY"7,19037" Lr.?e^ww^er ircttcaman was rouodeG in jtH&ti an! rite JVue Southron in 1866 The ffqsferama?? <zs<i Southron now has the combined circulation and influence of both of the old papers, a?d is mani festly the best advertising medium iu Ssmter. Charleston's effusive adulation of President Roosevelt when he visited the Exposition a year ago has brought a Crnm of discomfort. There is noth ing like casting bread ^pon the waters. When one considers the change that* has been wrought in the timber re sources of this section within the past twenty-five yeaxs he is forced to the conclusion that unless measures are immediately taken to replace the for ests that have been so recklessly con sumed, by systematic tree planting, there will be a timber famine in South Carolina before another quarter of a century has passed. The suggestion ,that the Legislature enact a law ex ; erupting from taxation all timbered lands from which - no timber is cut is a good one and will do much to en courage the'preservation and increase of the timber resources of the State. The State's phosphate royalty the past year was less than that of the pro ceeding year^ and the report of. the Phosphate Commissioner does not in dicate that an improvement in the phosphate industry is to be hoped.for in the near future. The practical de struction of the industry which form erly yielded the State an annual in come exceeding $200,000 is one of the achievements of the Beform movement - that cannot "be said to have benefitted anyone. 1 It is said that there are not less than a thousand men in this State who are ambitious^ to serve as dispensary constables, and they are piling up petitions and endorsements of their ap plications for \ presentation to Gov. Hey ward. We do not envy him his job of winnowing this chaff in his search for the few kernels of wheat concealed in it. The ap country Legislator who has announced his, intention to introduce a bill making a failure or refusal" to pay a just debt a criminal offense, punishable by imprisonment is weary already of his honors as a law-.maker. His bilL has no chance to become a I law and we are satisfied he will have hope of reelection. The right to .make debts with no expectation of paying them is one of the dearest ^privileges of many free ciitzens. Georgia and several other States have an inspector of Kerosene Oil, while South Carolina has none. It is not unuusal to see a statement in the Augusta and Atlanta papers that a lot of oil 'that had been condemned in that State had been reshipped to South Carolina. This is a matter that the Legislature, which will convene next week, could well afford to give some atention to. SgsgShe financial condition of Sumter .'. .nty. is such that economy is absolute Tyneceesary unless another bond issue to pay off the floating indebtedness is desired. The floating debt is of some years standing, having accumulated from yearfo year for five or six years, and it is high time to begin reducing expenses and paying off the debt. There has been no material increase in the debt during the past two years so far as the information obtainable shows, but under the new conditions that will exist in what is now Sumter county there is.no reason why the in come of the county should not be suffi cient to gradually pay of all of the debt for which Sumter county is liable. r The more the people of Sumter con sider the telephone situation the more they realize the value of the country lines a&d the more they favor the City Conncil taking a stand that will insure the continuance of the out of town service on a basis that will enable men . of moderate means.to have telephones in -their houses. The members of the police force, City Clerk Hurst and Health Officer Reardon were the guests of the Hotel Sumter last Thursday at a New Year dinner by special invitation. The man agement of the hotel began the'New Year right and the dinner that was served left nothing to be desired. Cost sales are the order of the day and O'Donnell & Co., having entered the field with their immense stock oi clothing, dry goods -etc., everybody will be able to supply their needs at the minimum outlay of money. See what Mr. O'Donnell has to say respect ing his view of cost sales and his rea sons for offering his stock at sacrifice prices. Quit* a crowd of negroes left here Wednesday niuht for Florida, where they will work on turpentine farms. Tfrp agents of the turpentine operators have been at work in the county for several weeks and as usual succeeded in tempting quite a number of negreos t*> leave their homes. At least one of t'-.e negroes deserted his family leaving a wife and four small children in destitution and dependent on charity. Every year cases of this kind are re ported and if there is a law to punish a man for desertion an example should be made of a few of those who abandon their families to go to Florida. The Burns-Hard ware Co. The Barns Hardware Co., which re ceived a charter from the Secretary of State a few weeks ago completed its organization on Friday and the hard ware business established twelve years ago by Mr. W. B. Burns and since conducted by him with such signal success was formally taken over by the new company. The company was organized with a capital stock of $10,000, fully subscrib ed and paid up. Mr. J. R. Tobias, of Charleston was elected President and Mr. Moran of this city was made Manager and Secretary. While Mr. Burns has disposed of a controlling interest in the business and retires from active participation in its management, he is still interest ed in it as a stockholder and will remain with the company for several months. There has been no change in the force of clerks and the business will go on as usual except that it will be en larged and will be pushed more en ergetically than heretofore if that be possible. Mr. Moran," the manager, is a.Sum ter boy and has friends. here and throughout Sumter's territory until he can't count them, and every one of them wish him the biggest kind of success in his new and larger field. Mr. Tobias, the president, is a pro minent business man of Charleston and is associated with one of the larg est and most .progressive wholesale hardware firms in the State. The Bank of Sumter. The fourth quarterly statement for. 1902 of the Bank of Sumter which is. . published today shows that the bank has shared largely in the prosperity of the country and closed the year in a better condition than could have been expected when the year opened. The deposits are nearly one hundred thou sand dollars greater than at the end of 1901,. the amount due other banks is $2260 less than a year ago and the un divided surplus is a. thousand dollars greater. The business of the year has been thoroughly satisfactory in every way and the bank begins 1903 strong er and sounder than it was a year ago. The First National Bank. The statement of the First National Bank at the close of business on Dec ember 31stcannot fail to be satisfactory to every stockholder and customer, and to the directors and officers who have had the management of the bank dur ing the year it should be peculiarly gratifying. The deposit account-is the greatest in the history of the bank, exceeding$380,000, the 'surplus and undivided profits have been increased to $40,000, and the amount of cash on hand is greater than ever before. A glance at the statement will convince anyone cf the healthy condition of the bank and satisfy the most cautious that it is a safe, strong and well man aged financial institution. The Cotillion Clcb. The organization of the Sumter Cotillion Club, which succeeds the Sumter Club as a social organization and will have joint use of the club rooms with the Sumter Light Infantry, has been perfected and officers elected as follows President, W. S. Graham; Vice President J. G. DeLorme; Secretary and Treausrer, E. P. Moses. The officers and Messrs. Geo. L. Ricker, Elisba Carson and C. B. Yeadon, constitute the executive committee. The club gave its first dance on yesterday evening. Pythian Installation. The officers elect of Game Cock Lodge, Knights of Pythias, were in stalled Monday night at the regular weekly meeting of the Lodge, the first meeting of the New Year. The installation ceremonies were conducted by the following officials: Acting Grand Chancellor?J. M. Knight Acting Grand Vice Chancellor?J. H. Levy. Acting Grand Prelate?S. H. Ed munds. Acting Grand 3. M. A.?G. L. Ricker. There was a large attendance of Knights and the installation cere monial was conducted in full form and ceremony. _ Mr. J. Frank Pate who is a very versatile man has branched out into another line of industry and is now growing oranges in this city. That he has made a success of the undertaking there can be no doubt as this office has received a specimen of the fruit raised by him. The Sumter grown orange is of medium size, fully de veloped and as perfect a specimen of an orange as can be produced any where. _ _ FEAR LYNGKInT IN AUGUSTA. Military Company and Galling Gun Squad Called Out to Guard Court House During Trial of a Rape Fiend. Augusta, Jan. 6.?For the fir=t time in the history of Augusta the militia is under orders to guard any public place against their own friends. To morrow is the time set for the trial of Miles Johnson, the negro charged with rape, who since the crime has been in Savannah jail for safe keeping. This afternoon two deputies were sent to bring the negro to Augusta and simultaneously an order issued for one lieutenant and ten men from four I companies, a Gatling gun and the en j tire squad to report for duty to guard j the court bouse while the tri?l is in progress. Besides this there will be a squad of twenty policemen with Spring fields to strengthen the guard. The movement is somewhat a sur prise since there was no talk of violence before the issuance of military orders. ' Whether there will be any de monstration is a question, but should j such be the case the worst riot ever known to the south will result. London, Jan. 6.?According to the Daily Telegraph this morning con tracts have been completed to start a daily paper to be supplied with news by the Marconi system of wirless tele graph on board a British liner running between Liverpool and New York. Publications will begin about the end of this month. GEOBOE W. WILLIGIS IS DEAD. The Oldest Banker and Wealth iest Man in South Carolina. Charleston, Jan. 6.?George W. Williams, one of the oldest bankers in the State, died here today, making the fourth death of prominent and wealthy men of Charleston within a short time. Mr. Williams was 83 years of age. Ke was born in Burke county, N. C. His parents removed to the beautiful Nacoochee valley in Georgia, which is still owned by the family, and later Mr. Williams went to Augusta, where he entered business. A branch house was established in Charleston and the sales aggregated $2,000,000 a year, with profits of $200,000 to Mr. Williams and his part ner, Daniel Hand. Mr. Williams speculated during the war, buying considerable cotton and real estate which enhanced in value at the close of hostilities. Mr. Williams conducted one of the largest grocery, cotton and fertilizer houses in Charleston after the war and after established the Carolina Savings Bank, of which he was the head up to the time of his death. During his career he had 50 business 'partners and has divided more than $21,000,000 in profits. ; He was interested in many financial enterprises in Charleston and was . estimated to be worth a 'million and a half at the.time of his death. Mr. . Williams leaves two sons, who are asosciated officers of the bank, and two daughters, Mrs. Pat Calhoun of Cleveland, O., formerly of Atlanta, and Mrs. W. C. Carrington. The funeral services will be held to morrow afternoon at Trinity M. ? E. church. Items of Interest From Wedgefield. ' Wedgefield, Jan. 7.?The holidays are over and everybody is entering into'the New Year forgetting the-re verses of last year, only hoping for bet ter. Mr. S. R. Cain of Chicora, Berkeley county, and Miss Cassie Essie Ramsey, daughter of Mr. S. H. Ramsey will be married at STeetwood, residence of the latter at four o'clock this after noon. Miss Annie May Cain of Congaree is over to] attend the Ramsey Cain wed ding. / The fall has been favorable for the growth of grain, and wheat and oats are looking better than usual. Mayesville News Items. Mayesville, Jan. 6.?Our town seems to be on a building boom. All of the buildings now in course of ccnstraction are progressing nicely. There is a re port of another brick store being built shortly. It is hoped the good work will go on for we certainly need more stores and residences. The Bank cf Mayesville is carrying on a very successful business. The amount cf deposits is increasing daily and in every way the bank is prosper- s ing. The first quarterly statement : will probably be published next week. The Mayesville High School resumed its exercises yesterday and there is every prospect of a successful session. Mr. H. A. Rose, of Clarendon, has accepted a position at the depot here. Dr. Junius A. Mayes, of Savannah, is visiting his sister, Miss Sue Mayes. Mr. R. Chas. Hudson, of Greenville, a former citizen of Mayesville, is in town. Capt. S. D. Pierson and family, who have been living in Birmingham Ala., for the past two years, have re turned to Mayesville. Mr. Sam Barron, of Manning, has resumed his position with Mr. R. A. Chandler. i Mr. C. F. King, who has been clerking here for some time, has ac cepted a position in Sumter. SOUTHERN RAILWAyIs CROSSING BLUE RiOGE. Rapidly Extending its Lines Through Rabun Gap. Daniel Ravenel, formerly of Charles ton, has just been in that city, and tells of the progress of a link of the South ern Railroad that is probably to con nect the Atlantic with the Mississippi Valley. Mr. Ravenel is the secretary of the Nantahala Company, of which enterprise he also speaks: The Nantabala Company, in which many Charleston capitalists are inter ested, owns over 40,000 acres of the most Ivaluable hardwood timber Hands in the east and will shortly put its saw mills in operation. The" pro perty of the company is situated prin cipally in Macon County, N. C, but considerable land is owned in adjoin ing counties and in the northern part of Georgia. -As a resort, the natrual advantages of the Nanthahala mountains are un paralleled, as the late Prof. Arnold Guyot, of Princeton, said, after travel ing over the whole world : "The Nan tahala mountains are the most beauti ful and the most desirable locality in all the world to live." The beautiful Nantahala River, the highest river east of the Rocky mountains, runs for eight miles through the company's property, its source being at an eleva tion of 4,600 feet. This section of the property with the advent of rail road will, of course, be a most attrac tive summer resort. The Tallula Falls rifrcay, which will run from Cornelia, on the main line of the Southern read, to Franklin, a dis tance of sixty miles, is rapidly nearing completion, and will be in operation by the opening of the summer season. It is an interesting fact that this road runs through the famous Rabun Gap. There has probably never been any one point that has had so many survevs made over it as Rabun Gap. ' As far back 1812 the United States Government made a survey through i the Gap for a highway from the north j west. In 1838 John~ C. Calhoun got j an appropriation from the government j to investigate the advisability of building a canal to connect the Ten nessee and Savannah rivers. Since then there have been scores of rail : roads surveyed through this, the only J outlet across the Blue Ridge. Fcrty i five years ago the old Blue Ridge road j did considerable grading in the vicinity j of Rabun Gap, and the road that is ! now in construction will lay their ' rails on several miles of this grading. All Suits, MiW?M**MMMfiM*M*MMMM?llMM. We want to malfe a clean sweep of all 5 during the next THIRTY days. Don't want to pack up a single gar ment. All PRICES MARKED' IN PLAIN FIGURES. PHONE 166. - ' B, S. u.