Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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PRQfiBESSiYE SUMTER. iensed Statement of Business Statis? tics, Such aV Population, Beal Estate and Personal Property Vaines, Manu? facturing and Industrial Enterprises, Educational Institutions, Commerce, Agricoliare, Railroads, Public Works, Banks, faxes and Other Facts About Sumter City and Sumter Count} S. C., Collected and Classified for The Daily IItem by Emmett 1. Beadon, Secretary and Health Officer. The city of Sumter and county are ?j : situated about the center of the state. The city; is situated in & sandy pine belt region, and is noted for the salu? brity of its climate. It has a'ways ^maintained a high reputation as one of the most healthy sections of the south. The city is- handsomely laid out with wide streets and well shaded ^- avenuees, handsome public buildings and private residences, the latter hav? ing well kept gardens, gave evidence of , comfort and elegance. Located on eight- railroad lines, provided with , good sanitary regulations and thorough system of water works and electric g lighting, Sumter enjoys exceptional facilities as a sn m mer and winter residence. The distance from Colum Bpia is 42 miles, from Charleston i*5 ? miles, from Wilmington 149 miles. The city is forging to the front s?edily and rapidly, industrially and commer cially. This is a prosperous section and tfie signs of good times are clearly y evident Nearly all of the business vf buildings are new, have just been or are being remodled and the city is noted for its beautiful homes, and Bpaoany beautiful cottages with ?all mod V em sanitary fixtures, and convenience, are being built for rent; at rea? sonable prices. Sumter's real estate is steadily in? . creasing in value and as this is likely to become a winter resort, the increase in value is very noticeable. Several years ago a citizen bought 20 acres near the depot, he sold 17 acres to the Southern Railway for $10, eoo.00, get $2,000.00, for a part of it , 200 fi square, and the value of what, he had left, exceeded the original cost of the 20 acres. The city government of Sumter is in a fine condition financially, having ." a tax valuation of $795,000.00 and a f Jwnd debt of only $57,00X00. These Hpre 20 year 4S and6S. The city tax is % 14 mills for ail pourposss, the busiaess Bpi cense rates are exceedingly low. While 14 mills taxes are levied, yet property is only returned for taxation at about one-half its value. For illustration note below that 63 tidings alone erected at a cost of ?120.00, still the increase in tax sturns in ^03, was only $175,000.00, including real estate valuer hocshold goods and store fixtures and other per .' sonal property. II all property was returned at % of its value, it would be necessary tojlevy ; only 7 mills taxes, which would look ? better io outsiders not familiar with" methodsv of returning property for taxa-1 tion ; so after all taxes are very low in Sumter, considering the up-to-date municipal government and the conven- j iences enjoyed by its citizens. No one will sell property for 50 per I rent more than it is returned for ! taxes, some would refuse a great deal1 jre. The Sumter Water Co. asked ! 120,000.00 one year aeo for; plant, which coat about $45,000.00; ten years ago, but this company only pays taxes to the county on- $19,000.00 worth of property ana other corpor? ations are similiarly undervalued, and pri vate properly too. The people are justly proud of their schools. St Joseph's Academy for young ladies'established in 1363, has a great: reputation. It is a high grade institution. There are ^three graded, two common and one high school under the supervision of superintendent, who conducts them accoridng to mod? ern ideas and methods. The two hand? some new brick pchool buildings cost $35.000.00 and are heated and ventilat? ed by a system as near perfect as is s known to science. Sumter is noted for the purity of its water supply, capacity being 1,000,000 gallons per day? distributed from a - standpipe which holds 400,000 gallons. The health of the city is carefully looked after, the death rate is exceed* ingly low, particularly among the white people, and the city is noted for the small number of cases of infectious and contagious diseases. The city is also well drained, mostly with under? ground terra co ita pipes. There are two hospitals for the care of the sick, managed by surgeons of ability and reputation, trained nurses are in at? tendance. These hospitals draw . al large patronage from other cona ties in this State, wa ere there are no hospi? tals for the care of the sick. They are Dr. J. A. Mood's Infirmary and Dr. S. C. Baker's Infirmary. A training school for nurses is established at both hospitals. Sumter county is an exceptionally . flee agricultural section. The climate is ideal and crops can be raised the year round. The soil is peculiarly adapted to the production of cotton, corn, hay, oats, wheat, melons, barley, rye, tobacco, potatoes and all varieties of fruits and vegetables. This is al splendid market for fruit raising and truck farming. Sumter is one of the largest cotton producing counties in the State. One other county which has over 25 per cent more territory produc? ed 52,000 bales against Sumter's 01,500 bales. This is about the best local cotton market in the state. Sumter - also excels in the matter of fine tim? ber. Great quantities cypress, oak, walnut, popular, dogwood, hickory, maple, yellow and Cuban pine and black gum grow here. The county has an able county su? pervisor and board of county commis? sioners, men of practical ideas, patrio? tic and energetic. All laws are rigidly enforced and Sabbath breaking is not tolerated. There are no dens where drink and vice rule. The city and county are ran ou a high moral plane. The people are religious and cht. .-ch going. Both the police and county court dockets, are remarkably free from criminal cases. The whites are in the major? ity. The county of Sumter is peopled by sturdy, honorable, hard working farmers of modern idea?, among whom are many historic families, the true types of the old South, noted for hospi? tality and patriotism. There are ten churches in the city for white people. Methodist, 2, Baptist, 2, Presbyterian, 2, Lutheran, 1, Roman Catholic 2, Episcopal, 1, Hebrew Synagogue, 1,1 Dunstan; Church, J, and five churches fer colored people, Baptist, Methodist .. ; _;_ and Presbyterian. Sumter is rapidly becoming a mane factoring center. Two large furnitur and coffin factories employ, hnndred of men, one of which started on a cap ital of $65.00 seven sears ago, the plan could not now be bought for $50,000. 00/ The Sumter Telephone Company which manufactures telephones,switch boards and other telehpone and electri appliances, is the only telephone fae ; tory in the south, whose products fim markets throughout the world Hundreds of men and women are em ployed and the factory is one of th largest in the United States. The Sumter Fire department consist of two two-horse teams manned by th finest set of young volunteer fire fight ere to be found in the country, and th? hook and ladder company manned b; faithful colored firemen. Insurana rate are therefore not high. Sumte city and county have an industrious well behaved and orderly colored pop ulation, many of whom own their pwi homes. Race troubles are unknown. SOME BUSINESS FACTS Population of city of Sumter in 1890. ,U. S. Census, 3,800. ? Population of city of Sumter in 19W U. S- Census, 5,675 Increase in ten years 1,875. Population of city of Sumter in 1903. official city cesnus 7,281. Suburan population, practicall} part of city, 767. Total city and sur burban population, 8,048. Actual increase in population sine? 1900, 1,606., The increase in a little ; over tw< years since 1900 was nearly as much af in ten years previous. * Total area of city in square miles 3-2-0. Number of inhabited houses ix etty 1,569, Length of water pipes ll miles. Capacity of water supply 1,000,00< gais, daily. Amount invested in manufacturing and industrial enterprise $775,000.00. Banking capital, three banks, $200, 000.00. Population employed in factories, ! 1,200*. Number of miles of streets & > -4 miles of macadam, balance cia; and sand roads. RAILROADS. Sumter is the largest railroad centei ; in the state. Three different systems of railroads, viz. Atlantic Coast LID? j Railroad Co., The Northwestern Rail ! road Co , and Th? Southern Railway, with eight separate lines running inte Sumter from all points of the compass, controlled by railway companies ai follows:. Manchester & Augusta Rail? road Co., The Central Railroad Co., of South Carolina, The Sumter ? Wate ree Co., The Wilmington, Co? lumbia & Augusta Railroad Co., Thc Wilson & Summerton Railroad Co., the old C. S. ?VN., now the.M. & A. extension. There are-52 trains daily 31 carrying passengers, 25 carrying U. S. mails and passengers exclusively. Total passenger business of all rail? roads of Sumter for the twelve months of 1903, $150,018.20. Total freight busi? ness of all railroads of Sumter for thc twelve months of 1903, $509,000.80. Local pay rolls at Sumter of the rail roads^annually $71,360.00. Total value of railroad property returned to the county for taxes in 1903 $935,080.00. Actual value of* railroad property, ali kinds, in 1903, $1,400,000.00. Numbei of miles of side tracks in city of Sum? ter, 117. Total taxes paid Sumtei county 1903, by railroads, $12,148.12. Total value of railroad property re? turned for taxes in the city of Sumtei in 1903, $61,690:00. Actual value ol railroad property in the city of Sumtei $145,000.00. Total taxes paid city oi Sumter by railroads in 1903, $909.97. Total license taxes paid city of Sum? ter by railroads in 19U3, $250.00. Num? ber of railroad employes in city ol Sumter, 147. Sumter county has more syterns of railroads and mere miles ol railroad tracks than any county in the state, not excepting Richland ; county, in which the capital of the state is situated. The city of Sumter has the greatest number of railroad lines, with the best morning and afternoon schedules for drawing trade of any city in the state and among the best in the south. Sumter is indebted to the railroads, particularly the Atlantic Coast Line, for much of her prosper? ity and the Northwestern and the Southern Railway contribute much tc the prosperity of the city also. The city of Sumter does a very large business m dry goods, particularly fancy dress goods, and making fine dresses, milinery goods, etc. There are seven dress making establish? ments, some of them conducted by ex? clusive dry goods stores. There are four first class milinery stores. The leading dry goods, millinery and shoe stores send their representatives and head dress makers, milliners and chiefs of departments north each spring and fall to purchase their stocks and study the latest patterns, styles, etc. Sumter draws a large patronage in the above lines from Flornce, Marion, Clarendon, Kershaw, Lee, Darlington, Marlboro, Williamsburg and George? town counties. In gents and boys clothing and furnishing goods Sumter has a number of establishments hand? ling these lines and exclusively several merchant tailoring establishments which make clothing. There are a number of largo shoe stores also. The wholesals grocery business is very large and ships many carloads of groce? ries to other points. A good business is also done in shipping hardware and paints. Lots of manufactured articles, such as telephones, telephone receivers, switch boards, furniture, coffins and fine caskets and boxes, doors, sash, biids fly screes, desks cabinets, safes cotton seed oil, meal and hulls, cotton yarn, lumber, turpentine, rosin, turn? ed wood work, bal lusters, window and door frames, fancy wood work, golf sticks, building material of all kinds, brick, ice, soda water, cocacola, wag? ons, log carts, buggies, brass and iron foundry work, machine work, plumb? ing work, marble and stone work, job printing, and other articles are made here and shipped to various points in this and other states. Diversified in? dustrie*, honest dealing and a hus? tling business spirit, together with splendid telephone connections with rural districts and surrounding towns and convenient morning and after? noon railroad schedules to all points make Sumter the chief distributing center for a very larg? sk'tion of South Carolina. The general headquarters and repair shops of the Northwestern railroad are located here. Two commodious freight depots, with numerous warehouses, platforms and sheds for cotton, ferti? lizers, naval stores, agricultural im? plements and other freight. Two handsome passenger depots costing $25,000, two local switch coeinee [.are required night and day to handle the freight traffic. Two yardmasters and a force of switch hands and other hands are worked night and day on the extensive freight yards. Five car inspectors are con? stantly employed, three roadmasters are located here with five section mas? ters. A considerable force of locomo? tive engineers, firemen, conductors and baggage-masters and other rail? road men are living here. The dis? trict surgeon of the three railroad sys? tems lives here. Total value of real estate and per? sonal property, returned for taxes in the city of Sumter in 1903, $1,794,090. Actual vsklue of all personal property and real estate of all kinds, taxable and non-taxable in tho city of Sumter esti? mated $3,000,000.00. Total city taxes collected in* 1903, $24,79189. This deos not :inclnde license tax and com? mutation taxes, amounting to $4,500 annnallv. Increase in tax returns in city of "Sumter in 1903, $175,000.00. Number of new residences, stores, tenement houses, office buildings, manufacturing enterprises, schools, warehouses, hotels, lumber plants, churches and other buildings erected in the past 18 months 163, which cost $375,120.00. The Western Union Telegraph Co., Postal Telegraph Co., and the South? ern Expi.-ess Co. have 16 men employ? ed here 'iud* they do a very large busi? ness. The Western Union pays taxes on personal property returned at $27,818. ??0. The real estate and per? sonal property owned by the city of Sumter valued at $12,500.00. Its in ai ci pa I ofBciais are: Mayor, eight aldermen, city clerk and treasurer, recorder, snpervisor of registration, superintendent of public works, as? sistant superintendent of public works, chief of police, 6 regular po? liceman and.several substitute officers, chief and assistant chief of the fire de? partment, secretary to city Board of Education, health officer and sanitary inspectox, city physician, superintend? ent of edacation, five members, of the city board of education, five members' of the health board, president of the health board, city engineer, corpora? tion counsel, 35 teachers employed in the city graded schools. Total school enrollment for 1903, 1,400, an increase of 16 per cent. The county court house and county offices are located in Sumter. The total amount of business in all branches of trade, manufacturing and industrial lines is estimated by experts ';o be not less than $7,000,000 annually, exclusive bf banking busi? ness: The total volume of business as done by the three local banks in 1903, ^according to statements of cashiers of the First National Bank of Sumter, Bank of Sumter, and The Sumter Sav? ings Bank $50,630,382.06. Sumter is an unusually large lumber market, with a cozen lumber plants located in or near the city, employing several thousan ?s hands, and nearly all lumber i shipmei ts are made from the Sumter depot. vWe have also 1 telephone fac? tory? 2 large cotton ginneries, 2 coffin and furniture factories, 1 large cotton oil and fertilizer factory 2 largo bot? tling works, 1 golf stick factory, a fine water works system, 3 ice plants, 1 electric light and power plant, 5 lum? ber, door, sash and blind factories, and general wood working establish? ments. 2 laundries, 5 shops making wagons and buggies, 3 embalming es? tablishments, free city mail delivery, rural mail delivery, one cotton mill, one natat?rium, .6 shoemakers, 3 tin shops, number of contractors, painters, and architects, and skilled laborers and mechanics and artisans, stenogra? phers and typewriters, private schools, music schools, fine drives, good hunt? ing and fishing, one whiskey dispen? sary, b?er dispensary, 3 job printing establishments, 1 daily and 4 weekly papers, one monthly paper, 3 banks, S railroad companies, colleges and graded schools, 2 new modern hotels, and mrny excellent boarding houses, one military company, brass band and orchestra ; ?40,000 opera house and city hall, long distance and local telephone exchanges, 3 gunsmiths, two brass and iron foundries, 3 machine shops, 5 blacksmiths and wheelwright shops, 5 bicycle repair shops, 5 plumbing and steam Stiling establishments, 3 furni? ture and cabinet repair shops, 2 mar? ble ami stone yards ; there are 15 phy? sicians i, 9 dentists, 5 drug stores, 15 trained nurses who go out of the city to work when called on, 21 attorneys,! 4 railroads attorneys, 3 railroad sur? geons, 35 county officials and their clerks and assistants, who have their offices in Sumter, 13 lodges of secret societies. Sumter is a large wholesale as well a s retail market, having 4 exclus? ive wholesele and jobbing houses, with representatives on the road, 7 or 8 wholesale and retail establish? ments, and about 65 re ra il stores of all kinds, besides other places of busi? ness. Eight handsome brick stores and 1 brick warehouse 40x175 ft. are in course of erection or have been built within the last 18 months, be? sides a number of small wooden stores, not previously mentioned. Sumter is also 8, very large live stock market, there being C stables handling thou? sands of horse? and mules annully, be? sides many thousands dollars of farm? ing machinery, other agricultural im? plements, harness, hay, grains, bug? gies, wagons, &c. Sumter i? a large wholesale distributing point for a large portion of South Carolina. Many rural and star routes for mail begin here. POSTAL RECEIPTS SHOWING IN? CREASE IN 10 YEARS. Fiscal Y'r Receipts uain oyer Per Ont ending for fiscal previous of .TnneS?. Year. Year. (iain. 1893. $6,979.79 S 1894. 7,178.04 19S.85 2.85 1895. 7,171.24 1896. 7.310.02 138.7S 1.93 1897. 7.446.63 136.61 1.87 189S. 7,620.03 173.40 2.83 1S99. 7,698.34 87.31 1.03 1900. 8,779.57 1,081.23 14.05 1901. 10,203.21 1,423.64 16.22 1902. 10,778.76 475.55 5.G4 1903. 12.077.06 1,298.30 12.05 Total gain in 10 y' rs 85,104.67 Less Joss in fiscal year 1895, 7.40 Total aet gain in 10 years, $4,097.27 Receipts in fiscal year ending Jina 30, 1893, $6,979.79 Receipts in fiscal vear ending June 30, 1903, 12,077.06 75 per cent gain in 10 years. Receipts for first half fiscal year to December 31. 1903, $6,842.2 Receipts same period 10 years previous, - 8,8C6.12 Gain in 10 years. $3,036 69 DETAILS OF THE BATTLE OF SIMOUGHENQ. Russian Loss Double the Estimate Made by Japanese, Who Lose Less Than 1,000. _1 \ Japanese Won Victory By Desper? ate and Tireless Fighting Superior Generalship. Tokio, Aug. 5, noon.-lt is now es? timated that the Russians lost 2,000 men in the fighting at Simoucheng. The Japanese sanitary corps recovered and buried 700 bodies in the valleys through which the Russians fought and retreated. Prisoners and Chinese report that many of the Russian dead and wounded were removed by the Russians themselves. The Japanese captured six guns, 570 shells, a quan? tity of stores and 33 prisoners. A detachment of the Russian medical corps which was captured by the Japanese was returned to the Russian lines. The Japanese casualties at Simoucheng amounted to 860 men, including eight officers killed and 24 officers wounded. Gen. Kuroki's attack upon the late Lieut Gen. Count Keller was timed to forestall the assumption, of the defensive on the part of the Russians. Frontal and flank attacks were de? livered simultaneously against the Russians at Yushulikzu at dawn of Sunday, fthe Japanese artillery first clearing the way for the infantry. The position was captured at 9 o'clock ia the morning. A frontial attack against the Russian centre was con? tinued but the general advance was delayed to await the success of the Japanese left column. The Russians attempted repeatedly to retake their former positions at Yushulikzu, but the Japanese repulsed them every time. The fighting at Yangtsuling began at dawn of Sunday, July 31, when the Japanese drove back the Russian outpost companies and took possession of the positions. The Japanese artil? lery was ineffective there on account of topographical conditions, Horses were useless and meri^ha?l to drag the guns over the broken country. It was ll o'clock before the main battery of artillery opened^fire. The main force of the left column began the attack from Makumenza and separate detach? ments advanced along separate routes with the object of triking the Russian flank and rear. The heights of Yangfzuling were held by the Russians with four bat? talions. The Japanese partially silenced the Russian artillery, but four of the enemy's guns continued to sweejf the Japanese position. Only 20 Japanese guns got into action. The frontal attack delivered by the Japa? nese in the morning had not become effective by noon. lu the meantime a flanking column had scaled some heights and gotten the Russians range and at ll o'clock the Japanese \ artil? lery was strengthened. During the afternoon the infantry pressed forward and the entire line be? came engaged. The Russians resisted stubbornly. The battlefield was a most difficult ons upon which to man? oeuvre and the Japanese were not able to dislodge the enemy. The troops of the mikado slept in battle formation when the coming of night suspended hostilities. Fighting was resumed at dawn next day and the Russians were speedily repulsed. Gen. Kuroki esti? mates the Russians casualties at 2, - ooo. At Yangtzuling the Japanese cap? tured two guns, with 60 rifles, 400 tents and much ammunition and equip? ment Eight Russian officers and U9 men were taken prisoners. In the fighting at Yushulikzu and Yangznl ing the Japanese casualties amounted to 970 including four officers killed and 40 wounded. TOTAL RUSSIAN LOSSES 4,000 St Petersburg, Aug. 5 1.11 p. m. Detailed reports reaching the war office from Gen. Ku ro pat kin's gene? rals show that the Russian losses July 30, July 31 and Aug. 1 did not exceed 4,000. The Japanese are believed to have lost an equal number. It appears most of the Russian losses were sustained on the Siametsze road and between Simoucheng and Hai Chene. The two divisions of the late Gen Keller's corps did not make a ser? ious resistance at the Yansee pass, falling back on Lianudiansian wirb scarcely any casualties Similarly Gen. Stalkenberg's and Gen. Zarou baieff's troops retired upon Anshan sban, half way between Hai Cheng and Laio Yang without heavy fighting or loss. The.greatest number of cas? ualties was sustained by Gen. Hersoh elman, who with the Ninth European division held Kuchiatzu and Yusbu pass on the Siamatsze road. The fighting here was of the most desper? ate and bloody character., A single regiment lost 25 per cent, of 800 men before they withdrew towards Anping. Another point where most stubborn re? sistance was made was at Nanga pass, a position between Simoucheng and Hai Cheng, which was held by Gen. Zassalitcb, who had been placed in command of a newly formed corps, in? cluding the Thirty-first division be? longing to the tenth European corps, and two Siberian battalions, altogether 40,000 men. Gen. Zassalitch's misfor? tune at the Yalu river was duplicated, owing to the superiority of the Japa? nese artillery. He was making a splendid fight until he suddenly dis? covered that the Japanese gunners were enfilading his batteries. It appears that Zassalitcb in this case was not to blame. The information that Gen. Zarou baieff had received orders to retire had not yet reached him with his own orders for wihdrawal of the Russian suppo.c of the right, and consequently he allowed the Japanese to take up a new position, suddenly unmask batter? ies and overwhelm the Russian gun? ners who made desperate efforts to remove their pieces, but were compell? ed to leave six of them behind. There has been no further fighting of any importance since Aug. 1, accord? ing to the latest reports received by the war office. In the opinion of the gen eral staff both sides need a rest after fighting three days in the terrible heat and the officials here are inclined to believe that the Japanese will not be able to resume their advance for sev? eral days. WILL NOT BE REPEATED. St. Petersburg, Aug. 6, 1.59 a. m. -The Associated Press is able to an? nounce that there will be no repeti? tion of the Knight Commander and the Thea incidents. Russia has issued instructions to naval commanders not to sink neutral merchantmen with contraband on board in the future ex? cept in cases of direct necessity but in cases of emergency to send prizes into neutral ports. "Direct necessity" may be regarded as a reservation of a right which Russia does not formally relinquish but which, it is safe to say, will not again be exercised dur? ing the present war, Russia's concessions in this matter may be looked upon as proof of her sincere desire to avoid international complications or the unnecessary irri? tation of neutrals. The authorities here feel that this course will be sat? isfactory to Great Britain and the powers. With such assurances it will make the Knight Commander and Thea cases much easier of adjust? ment. Constantianople, Aug. 6.-Russia's announced intention to send several volunteer fleet steamers loaded with coal through the Dardanells has been prohibited by the Porte, but Russia has given written assurance that the commercial character* of the steamers should not be changed after they pass the Dardanells. Vladivostok, Aug. 6.-The prize court has arrived at a decision in the case of the British steamer Knight Commander, which was sunk by the Vladivostok squadron. The court de? clares that the ship and cargo was a lawful prize for the reason that it car? ried contraband railway material for the Seoul-Yalu railway, which is being built by the Japanese for military ! purposes. ' ________ London, Aug. 8.-The Times corres? pondent at Tokio under date of Aug. 7 says that there are unofficial reports there that the Japanese have captured commanding positions north and northeast of Port Arthur at a distance of 2,750 yards from the main line of Rcssian defenses. St. Petersburg, Aug. 7.-Lieut, Gen. Stoessel, commanding the Russian military forces at Port Arthur, in an undated dispatch to the emperor, says : "I am happy to report that the troops repulsed all the Japanese at? tacks of July 26, 27 and 28 with enor? mous losses. ' "The garrison's enthusiasm was ex? traordinary. "The fleet assisted in the defense by bombarding the Japanese flank. " Our lossees during the three days were about 1,500 men and 40 officers killed or wounded. "According to statements of Chi? nese and prisoners the Japanese lost as many as 10,000. "Their losses were so great that the enemy has not had time to remove the dead and wounded." JAPANESE CLOSE TO FOTRESS. Cheefoo, Aug. 8, 9 a. m.-The Jap? anese force which captured Wolfs hill is now entrenched in the valley about two-thirds of a mile from the fortress at Port Arthur. A Japanese cruiser is alleged to have struck a new mine and to have sunk immediately in the vicinity of Cristova battery. The Russian cruiser Bayan has a small bole above her water line which was inflicted by the explosion of a mine, which had floated to the harbor entrance. The Japanese Jbave occupied Louisia bay, landing troops with the probable intention of attacking west of the city. There has been no important fighting in the vicinity of Port Arthur since July 28. The Russian artillery har? asses the Japanese who are attempt? ing to advance their trenches. The above information was brought here today by Russian refugees who left Port Arthur the 4th instant. SACRIFICED PRESTIGE BUT SAV? ED ARMY. Tokio, Aug. 7, 6 p. m.-Gen. Kuro patkin's success in extricating his army from the Liao Tung peninsula without disaster has elicited mach praise from the Japanese. The con? centrating of the army at Kai Chou at one time seemed certain to involve it in disaster. It was popularly be? lieved that a generally decisive battle would be fought either at Ta Tche Kiao or at Hai Cheng. It is consider? ed here that Kuropatkin sacrificed his prestige by abandoning an immense territory without a battle. He was forced to abandon or destroy valuable stores and munitions of war when their transportation was almost the most serious problem to the Russians. He also impaired the morale of his army, but be preserved his men and guns. , It is evident that he had hoped and planned to check the Japa? nese at Ta Tche Kiao. Then, after holding the enemy in check, it is be? lieved to have been his purpose to con? centrate his remaining force at Liao Yang and to strike Kuroki. The unexpected loss of the Russian left at Ta Tche Kiao and the appear? ance of the Japanese Ta Takushan army on the flank forced the abandon? ment and surrender, without a fight, of Yin Kow, Hai Cheng and New Chwang. It is generally believed that the crisis will come shortly at Liao Yang and that Kuropatkin will be farced to give battle, whatever his present purpose may be. Gen. Oku's and the Ta Takushan armies are pressing northward and Gen. Kuroki is close at hand, ready to take any part necessary in the general Japanese play. The possession of Yin Kow (the port of New Chwang) has enormously sim? plified the transportation problem for the Japanese. It gives their two ar? mies a freedom of movement which they have not heretofore possessed. The Japanese are speedily repairing the railroad which the Russians failed to seriously damage in their hasty re? treat. ST. PETERSBURG ENCOURAGED. St. Petersburg, Ang. 8, 2.25 a. m. An official report from Lieut. Gen. Stoessel, commanding the military forces at Port Arthur, says that the Japanese were repulsed with tremen? dous loss in a three days' fight from July 26 to July 28. Gen. Kuropatkin reports from Liao Yang some small Russian successes in outpost fighting up to Aug. otb, without the expected great battle having been opened. Tbe simultaneous receipt of favora? ble news from these commanders in the far east raised the spirits of those in the Russian capital immensely. The dispatches were printed in special newspaper bulletins and were eagerly bought upon the streets. The news? boys around the depots met the return? ing crowds of Sunday pleasure seekers and shouted their w; -es without beiEg reproved by the poiice and thousands of St. Petersburgers went to their homes tonight apparently satisfied that a favorable turn of affairs had com? menced at the front. Gen. StoessePs report, though ten days old, is taken as a satisfactory refutation of ch-a recently repeated ru? mors of the fail of Port Arthur. 3e states that the determined Japanese assaults were repulsed with tremen? dous loss and figures 10,000 as the number of Japanese killed or wounded. This is admittedly on Chinese infor? mation, which hitherto has proved to be of exeedingly doubtful value, but the Russian losses of 1,500 as a basis, the authorities here consider that 10, 000 is a fairly conservative estimate since t\e Japanese were beaten off in what must have been a desperate as? sault on tremendously strong fortifica? tions. The authorities do not divulge the source of Gen. Stoessel's report, though it is understood that it came by way of Chefoo. . The fact that the Japanese are in possession of the coun? try as far north as Hai Cheng renders it unlikely that it came by land route. Gen. Kuropatkin's report states that the Japanese are stationary on his eastern front, the greatest activity be? ing ou the south and southeast posi? tions, where the Russians are able zo take the offensive. While the move? ments in themselves are apparently of no great importance they are interest? ing as showing that the Japanese are still halting before undertaking the serious task of attacking Liao Yang with its strong circle of defenses. THE FIGHT FOR PORT ARTHUR. Che-Foo, Aug. 6.-(5 p. m.)-"Port Arthur will certainly fall inside 'of one or two months, depending how fast the Japanese move." This opinion was expressed today by an educated Russian who has just ar? rived here from Port Arthur by a junk. He had fifteen companions, but the party left the Russian stronghold six days ago. They suffered much hardship on the trip over from lack of food and water. The Russian who voiced the forego? ing opinion occupiedan important semi? official position at Port Arthur and his views are regarded as valuable. He says that while the Japan?se constant? ly receive reinforcements every Rus? sian casualty decreased the defensive efficiency of the garrison, as the Rus? sians cannot be reinforced. Gen. Stoessel commander in chief at Port Arthur, is compelled to husband his ammunition. He can manufacture shells, but it is impossible to make proper explosives. The necessity of protecting the men for the final stand explains thejretreat of the Russians from the stronghold outpost position, where their losses were far less seri? ous than those sustained by the assail? ants. According to this Russian, Gen. Stoessle is in daily communica? tion with Gen. Kuropatkin. Tlie three days' fighting of last week was dene chiefly with artillery. Chefoo, Aug. S.-The Japanese army besieging Port Arthur is now only two thirds of a mile from the forts defend? ing the land approach to the city, and the final attack cannot be postponed many days. Constantinople, Aug. 9.-The Porte backed up by Great Britain, will de? mand a written assurance from Russia concerning the volunteer fleet stainers that are seeking permission to pass the Dardanells. It is not possible to forecast how Russia will regard the, attitude of Turkey SPOKE OH COTTON"MABKETfflS:. Addresses Made by Mr. E. D. Smitfo te Anderson County Farmers.. Anderson, Aug. 6.-The picnic given by the County Farmers' insti? tute at Sandy Springs yesterday was attended by an immense crowd. The .gathering was not political in any sense, but the candidates for county offices mingled with the people and did a strenuous day's work for them? selves. Hon. M. F. Ansel of Green? ville, one of the speakers expected, was unable to attend. . Hon. E. D. Smith of Lee county de? livered two addresses, one in the morn? ing and the other in the afternoon. His talks were of practical nature, dealing with methods of marketing cotton and cotton seed and buying fer? tilizers. The institute has been work? ing for some time to devise a success? ful plan for marketing cotton so that ! the farmers of the county could real? ize the best prices. Mr. Smith has accomplished a great deai in this par? ticular in his section, and for this reason he was invited to come to An? derson aud give the farmers the b_ene> fit of his expeiimente. ???rn 11 - Burglars in Mayes ville. Mayesville, Aug. 5.-Robbers broke^ one of the large glassses out of J. E. Barnetts' show window last night and took out a double barrel gun. They did not get inside the store. They then broke into the Atlantic Coast Line depot office and took about 82.00? 'iii cash besides a pair of pants an? some other stuff belonging to the agent. The officers started to get bloodhounds, but later concluded not to do so. There is no clue at ail, though some of the stuff was recover? ed. Flood at Pisgah. Pisgah, Aug. 6.- Not since the flood Saturday of last year has this place re cived such a downfall of rain as fell here yesterday and last night It was literally a series of cloud bursts. The low lands are under water and the hills badly washed. What effect on the cotton it will have remains to be seen, but the general opinion is that it is knocked up. Roads badly torn up and washed. Sweet Springs, Mo., Aug. 8.-. Former United States Senator George Graham Vest died here this morning after a long illness.