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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1903. The Sumter Watchman was rounded in 1850 and the True Southron in 1866. The Watchman and Southron now has the combined ciraaiatiofiv?fid ia&teaee of both of the old papers, and is mani festly the best advertisicg medium in Sam tec. The Graded School square is the most suitable place for^he new high school building, and the City Board of Education should make another effort to convince the Daughters of tbe Con federacy, who hold the title to the square, that^he new building should be erected . on the Northern half of the quare. . ?t-? . If the Daughters of the Confederacy persist in-their refusnal to permit the new bighrschool building to be erected on the Northern . half of the Graded School square, despite the positive opinion of the entire school board, Superintendent Edmonds and many other true well-wishers of the school system of the ciijs that the said site is the only suitable location for the new building, it would be interesting as well as a matter of record to have a full and logical statement of the rea sons actuating the refusal of the rea sonable request of the school board. _ The city could not spend $150%o bet ter purpose than in assisting the Sum ter Medical Association fo entertain the Sta'te Medical Association when it holds its annual meeting here in April. When the association met in Sumter ten years ago the meeting was so suc cessful and the entertainment made so pleasant an impression upon the visitors that it has been frequently stated that the Sumter meeting was the most successful and enjoyable ever 5 held by the Association. It would never do for Sumter to fall below the standard she set for herself ten years ago. So far as w9 are informed the central committee in Columbia has as yet de signated bo one in this city to receive contributions to the ^ Gonzales monu ment fund. There are many people in Sumter who will gladly contribute to ward the Gonzales memorial, and while some of them' will send checks to ,the central committee, gjfer far the greater number of those who wen^l??^contribute-will not do so unless the Columbia committee namas a committee to receive the contributions here in Sumter. Under the bill fixing the time for holding court in the Third Circuit, the court of General Sessions will convene in this city on May 11th, July 6th and Nov. 9th. The arrangement is not one to be commended for the reason that six months will elapse between the November and Hay ? terms. During this period; November to May, fully seventy-five per cent of the crimes of the year are committed, and with no terms of court to clear the jail, the county will be put to a heavy expense for dieting the horde of negro prison ers who will crowd the county jaiL The court of Sessions should sit not less often than every four months, and every three months would be better. If there is to be an interval of six months between terms it should come in the spring and summer, not in the fall and winter. On Saturday a bill was introduced in Congress appropriating $6,000,000 for public buildings in various parts of the country. Among tbe towns that will receive public buildings and the amounts appropriated therefor are: Elizabeth City, N. C, $130,000; Durham, N. C, $100,000; Goldsboro, N. C, $50,000. The most notable feature of this omnibus public build ing bill, so far as we are concerned, is that no South Carolina town is to re ceive a public building while North Carolina is to get three. It is time South Carolina was receiving her share of governmental expenditures' for public buildings, and we hope our Congressman and Senators will make an effort to have incorporated in the next omnibus public building bill a paragraph appropriating $100,000 for a public building for Sumter. This city is entitled to a public building by reason of tbe importance of the town as compared with other towns in the State and the volume of business the PcwtofSce handles. Public buildings have been scattered broad-ca3t over the country in towns smaller and less important in every way than Sumter, and if our representatives will insist Sumter will be taken care of when the next public building raid on the treasury is made. Another-effort will be made to have a direct road opened from this city to connect with the new road across Black River built about three years ago, and a petition is now being circulated to secure the signatures of the property owners along the proposed route and of those who are interested in the open ing of this new short route to the southeastern portion of the county. It is planned to have the new road follow the old tram road, extending from the end of Graham's boulevard, a distance of five miles in a south easterly direction, utilizing this old right of way, and then to open a new road from the terminus of the old tram road to the present beginning of the Black Kiver road, near the Mc Fadden place. It is stated that the route proposed is the shortest and best available, although some persons favor the improvement and extension of the Radical road, which would pro bably be a cheaper method of accom plishing the end desired. It is evident to the most careless and inconsiderate observer that unless a new and direct route is opened from this city to con nect with the Black Rivar road and causeway the purpose for which the causeway, was built will not be ac complished. The city of Snmter spent a large sum of money on the Black River road, and the business men of the city are vitally interested in hav ing the undertaking completed so as to give the residents of lower Sumter and upper Clarendon county the best and, shortest possible ronte to this city, which is their natural market. Sumter has lost within recent years a large part of the trade from that sec tion on account of the bad roads and long, distance, and unless the roads are improved and the distance shortened, still more of the trade will go to other places that can be more conveniently reached. The distance can be very decidedly lessened by the opening of the proposed new road and the road way can be materially improved if modern methods of road-makir.g are applied. The business of that prosperous and thickly settled section, I where bright tobacco grows to perfec I tion to the gjreat profit of all farmers and land owners, is worth striving for, and if it can be regained by the construction of a few miles of road, the road should be built at the earli [ est possible day. President Roosevelt's insistence on the confirmation by the Senate of his appointment of Dr. Crum is evident ly more political than sincere,' being intended '.chiefly for black and tan consumption, and not to unduly in fluence the Senate. If he were so deadly in earnest why/did not his. close friend and thick-and-thin sup porter, Senator Nelson, absent himself from the committee meeting when the Crum matter was to be. decided? The Presidentfhas muddied the water suffi ciently for his purpose and having made certain of the black-and-tan support by the hullabaloo he has kicked up about. Dr. Crum, he is now willing for Crum to be eliminated if the Sen ate is made to appear responsible. ? If the law against cock fighting should be strictly enforced quite a number of politicians of more or less notority, from Josh Ashley upwards and down wards would be in jeopardy of fine and imprisonment. But as the enforce ment will depend' largely upon the vigilance of office-holders who general ly are politicians and prospective candi dates, the convictions'will be few and far between. There may be one con viction for every thousand cock fights, and even this may be an overestimate. The heavy rains of the past two weeks have cauesd all the streams to be flooded and overflow their banks, with resulting injury to lowlands, bridges and roads. In the northwest ern portion of the county the damage to bridges and roads has been particu larly heavy. Nearly all the bridges on Rafting creek and Carson creek have been either swept away or so greatly weakened that extensive repairs, will be necessary ^.to render the roads passable. The roads in Privateer are also reported to be in very bad condi tion, especially at Old Ford, Nasty Branch and the Pocotaligo "crossing. The roads need a great deal of work to put them in even tolerable condi tion, and unless the people them selves turn out and perform the road duty as required by law and thus assist the supervisor, the roads are cer tain to grow worse and worse each year instead of improving. It is im possible for the chain gang to keep all the roads in repair. We would call the attention of our farmers to the Caldwell Cotton Plant er offered for sale by O'Donnell & Co. This Planter meets a long felt want. It plants the cotton uniformly at the exact distance desired so that when an acre is put in by this Planter the farmer may rest assured there must be on the land the full number of plants. In other words the cotton comes up practically chopped out, re quiring only a thinning. It naturally follows by such a 'system over 2-3 of the seed usually required is saved, and the guano between the hills is not drawn upon as in the old way. Read O'Donnell & Co's. advertisement. A committee of the Sumter Medical Association will call on all of the business men of the city during the next few days for the purpose of giv ing them the opportunity to subscribe to the fend to be provided for enter taining the State Medical Association when it meets here in April. The fund to be raised will be used to give a banquet for the association and for similar purposes. The people of Sum ter are not expected to provide enter tainment for the members of the as sociation during their stay in the city, as it is the custom for them to stop at the hotels wherever the association meets. The entertainment to be pro vided will be merely in the way of social attentions that will tend to make the stay in the city of the visit ing doctors a pleasant one. ! THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. I _ Law Makers Hard at Work as Session Draws to a Close. NO NEW BILLS INTRODUCED. An ?ivwise Precedent Established, Paying For Diseased Stock Killed by Order of State Veterinaria x HAMPTON MONUMENT TO BE BUILT. Columbia, Feb 17.?The House spent today discussing Hfcuse bills, this be ing, their last- day on the calendar. Senate bills will be taken up by the House and House bills by the Senate after today. The house today established the pre cedent of paying owners, for diseased stock killed by the order of the State veterinarian if it can be proved that his diagnosis was wrong. Nearly a thousand dollars was appropriated this way. The claim of Mr. C. A. Calvo, Jr., once owner and editor of the Colum bia Register, was paid. The State owed him $900 for binding statutes for three years, as far back as 1S94. He is in ill health and almost in poverty now. The Senate resolution to have a committee meet before the next session and examine into the condition of the work of completing the State Capitol passed the House. The Senate devoted the morning ses sion to the passing of second and third reading bills. All the special orders of today are made special for the ses sion tonight. The Johnson amendment to divert the Wade Hampton monument-appro priation to the establishment of per manent scholarship in the South Caro lina and Winthrop Colleges was reject ed by a yea and nay vote of 28 to 12. Senator Johnson made a sentimental presentation of his proposed amend ment, but Senator Marshall stated that the money already subscribed by individuals as well as organizations previous to this proposed appropria tion Was done so with the express understanding that a handsome marble monument would be reared, and it would not be carrying out their wishes or desire to divert it now into another channel The Moses House bill, providing for this appropriation of #20,000 has now passed both branches of the General Assembly and will be ratified tomorrow. *Mr. Clifton's bill to amend section 169 of the code of civil procedure con tained in voL 2 of the code of laws of South Carolina, 1902, in reference to demurrers provoked a lengthy discus sion between several lawyers. It finally passed to a third reading by a vote of 23 to 1& The house at the night session pass ed the bill introduced by 'Mr. Morgan of Greenville "to authorize and em power the board of trustees of South Carolina college to improve the lands of the college, to build thereupon, to borrow money for such purpose and pledge the lands so improved for the money so borrowed." This bill had been introduced by request. It passed the house last night by just three votes. Mr. Morgan's joint resolution to allow the estate of Judge Joseph B. Earle.to sue the State of South Caro lina for salary unpaid created a con siderable debate among the lawyers and others in the house. The claim had been rejected two years ago, and the resolution was to allow suit to be brought?as no individual can sue the State without special permission. The house a few days ago killed a somewhat similar claim presented by Judge Buchanan and the two cases were discussed in connection last night. It appears that about the time these gentlemen were elected judges the general assembly cut the salary of circuit judges from $3,500 to $3,000. Judges Earle and Buchanan received $3,500 for one year. The question is, did these gentlemen receive too much for that year or did they receive too little for the three years succeeding? for no officer's salary can be reduced during his incumbency. The bill was killed by a vote of 57 to 27. On motion of Senator Mower the appropriation and supply bills were ordered read a second time with the understanding that general amend ments would be made on the third reading. The reading of the volumi nous documents consumed nearly the entire session. No vote was taken on the anti-cock fighting bill, but the matter may be concluded today. Mr. Marshall introduced a concur rent resolution providing for the ap pointment of a committee consisting of two senators and three representa tives to examine and report what work is necessary to the completion of the interior of the State house, the condi [ tion and cost of repairing the roof, i the condition of the heating aparatus ! of the building and the cost of a new plant if one be necessary, and the erection of retaining walls around the terraces which border the capitol. Said committee be authorized to meet I during the recess of the general as sembly and to m-ake a full report to the general assembly at the beginning of the next session. The concurrent resolution was im mediately adopted and sent to the , house. The sale and shipment of shad from the State for the next five years was reported favorable by tb.3 committee on commerce and manufactures. The measure will be hotly contested when it comes up for consideration. The catching and shipping of shad from the rivers around Georgetown is one of the principal industries of that coun ty, and her delegation are opposed to any legislation restricting the people in what they believe their legitimate rights.. An important measure regulating the manner in which common carriers doing business in the State shall ad just freight charges and claims for loss or of damage to freight was read last night and a substitute bill offered in the shape of an amendment by Mr. Hydrick was adopted. ? GONZALES' ATTORNEYS RIDDLE AFFIDAVITS OF SLAYER'S WITNESS. Columbia, Feb. 17.?The attorneys assisting in the prosecution of James H. Tillman have filed a large batch of affidavits in reply to the testimony submitted by the defendant at New berry. The affidavits were filed with Tiilman's attorney at five minutes to 6 o'clock last evening, that being the last minute allowed. The nature of these affidavits cannot be learned, but it is believed that the character of Holtzenbach is riddled by the evidence. He it was who alleged that Mr. Gonzales had made some in cendiary remarks about Tillman. The affidavits will not be1 made public until Thursday, when Chief Justice Pope will hear the motion for bail. The attorneys for Mr. Tillman are at work getting affidavits in rebuttal of the testimony submitted by the prosecution. The hearing has been set for 10 a. m., Thursday. No information can be obtained from either side, but the prosecution has submitted thirty-eight affidavits and it is thought that some of them will be very strong. WORDS $f"pRAIs"fOR ALL. One of our Correspondents Has Kind Words For Many. Mr. Editor: The Watchman gets better and better. I cannot' tall you how much I enjoy your editorials. Give us more. It is not my purpose to flatter you, but ?you surprise and please me every week. The Watch man grows more sprightly every week, more through your own contributions than augbt else. What has become of '?Guv."? Does he know how much people enjoy his articles? . We want to hear from Dr. Brown again. He writes much and is greatly sought after. Your correspondent was at the W. O. W. banquet. Where were you that night, Mr. Editor; It was a fine supper and we hope the ladies realized a nice sum from it. The next day, having missed the train we drum med for them on the street No, they offered us a free dinner but we paid for it. That is a handsome church the Dr. holds forth in. He is a man of marked individuality. All men have their peculiarities: some are rendered ridiculous by them, but Dr. Brown's render him grand. I hope he will pardon me for this effusion; if he does not I can't help it. Some men rust out, others wear out, but he belongs to neither. He has been in Sumter a good while yet on the night of the banquet the crowd were as anxious to hear him as if he had just got there. It seems to be a difficult matter to find a suitable person for the presidency of the State University. No more suitable man can be found than the "principal of your graded school, as every one who knows him will allow. Bad as I, in common with the people of Sumter would hate to lose him, yet I cannot refrain from the wish and desire that he may have a field com mensurate with his ability. Judge Woods is a conspicuous ex ample of the office seeking the man. He is an active member of the church, loved and highly esteemed in the coun ty of his adoption. He is not ambi tious except to excel in those qualities that go to make a noble manhood. That he has succeeded is proven by the facts that, unsought he was tendered the presidency of both Wofford Col lege and the State University and was finally elected Associate Justice. I expect he will accept the last named position as I suppose he was consulted beforehand about it. As time wears on the people begin to weary with the strenuous young man in the* White House. He seems bent on doing nothing but the strenu ous thing or the thing in a strenuous way. People grow tired of surprises and that uneasy feeling that makes them continually ask "what next?" Vox. The time for making tax returns to the county auditor expires within a few days, and tho penalty will then be put on. A most desirable early spring Fabric?most ex cellent for children's school dresses, ladies' waists and suits, men's iris, boys5 shirt waists. Very Special Price: Examine this lot of mer chandise. Undoubtedly the best value ever offer ed, J. BYTTENBERG & SONS. Did you get in on the 5c Percales \ O'BOJTjrJELL, # CO., General Merchants^ Sumter, S. C, February 10,1903. ; We are sole agents for "the counties of Le?, Clarendon and Sumter, for the Caldwell Cotton Planter. This Planter, after two years7 experience in our section, has cos clusively proven its claim to being the most satisfactory and all-round most economical Planter now in use. It plants the smallest possible quantity of seed, 12 to 15 quarts sufficing for an acre, and spaces them at the exact distance desired ; most desirable points in view of the high price of cotton seed and the present slovenly condition of labor. All agree, hands just will not chop out the cotton uniformly, so that a machine that will counteract this difficulty, must commend itself. This cer tainty of a perfect stand, together with the enormous saving of cotton seed, should induce every ' farmer to own one of the Planters. Read the following testimonials from some of our most reliable farmers. For terms apply to us. O'DONiYELL & CO. ?57?STB 07 COTTON SEED Z2T PLANTING. The south has never stopped to think how much money is wasted in planting each cotton crop. Let us figure it out and see. Upon a safe estimate not less than 400,000 tons of cotton seed are used each spring in pianting. The seed is sown lavishly in drills?not dropped at certain distances, as corn?and after the plants are up the crop is thinned with a hoe, more than nine-tenths of the the young plants being cut out. Here we find that the seed used in planting the cotton crop would bring in the market at least $6,400,000. As nine-tenths of this is wasted, we see here a total waste of over five and one-half million dollars ($5,760,000). It is time for the cotton growers of the south to call a halt to this extravagance. The old system of sowing cotton seed in the drill is a remnant of the times when eot ton seed was almost worthless. Since then their value has so much enhanced that a change should be made in the manner of planting. Instead of sowing' the seed in drills, drop them at a distance wanted, and by following this method not only the labor of thinning is saved, but nearly 400,000 tons of good cotton seed is saved for com mercial use, and the farmers of the south are five million dollars richer.r The Caldwell Cotton Planter saves the seed, plants and gives good stand with one peck to acre, saves enough seed to pay for itself in one season. Inquire for it. Agents in all principal towns. Sumter, S. C, August 21, 1902. . Messrs. O'Donnell <fc Co., Sumter, S. C: The Caldwell Cotton Planter I purchased of you I would state worked satisfactorily. It spaced with regularity, giving me a de sirable stand. I intend using it again next season. Richard L Manning. Mayesville, S. C, August 16, 1902. Messrs. O'Donnell & Co., Sumter, S. C. Dear Sirs : I bought of yon last seaso * a Caldwell Cotton Planter. Will state that it is a perfect planter, and I was well pleaded with it. In my judgment it did all that was claimed for it. I intend using it again this next year. It struck me cotton stood drought better where this was used, as it was properly spaced. J? E. Wilson. Catchall, S. C, August 23,1901. I used the Caldwell Cotton Planter the past season, and can say it gave satisfac tion, and proved in its simplicity and accuracy, all that was claimed by its inventor. I is strongly made, and all the combinations in Spacing, distance and regulating amount of seed used, etc., were quickly and readily made. Used on well made beds, there was, besides the saving of seed, assurance of a good stand regularly spaced, with a uniform number of plants to the hill. Yours truly, R. J. Brownfield. Pauola, S. C, August 18, 1902. O'Donnell & Co.: I have used several cotton planters, and discarded them all for the "Caldwell." It gives me most satisfaction by dropping any amount of *eed at whatever distance wanted, and by causing less draw on fertilizer than drilled cotton. Also economizing in seed, better stand by seed being concentrated, making hoeing much easier to unskilled labor. J. M. Richardson. Sumter, S. C, August 16,1902. Messrs. O'Donnell & Co., Sumter, S. C. Gentlemen : I used one of your Cald well Cotton Planters this year and am much pleased with it. I used one half bushel of seed per acre and got a good stand. The cotton planted with it cost 30 cents less per ..ere to hoe than that planted with a drill planter. I planted 30 acres and saved, in seed and hoe work, more than the cost of the planter. Yours very tiuly, P. M. Pitts. Pinewood, S. C, August 15,1902. Messrs. O'Donnell & Co., Sumter, S. C. Dear Sirs : It gives me pleasure to state the Caldwell Cotton Planter I bought of you proved very satisfactory. The spacing at exact distance was of great advantage. It struck me that those of my neighbors who like myself used your Planter, did not have their cotton to mm yellow like those where the cotton was irregularly chopped out, and where there were left in many in stances two stalks. Respectfully, D. W. Brown.