Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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WEDNESDAY, A?6?&T 24,-1904. The Silenter Watchman was founded in - 1S50 and toe True Southron in 1866. The \ Watchman and SoutJiron now bas the com? bined circulation and infiuen?fe of both of the old papers, and is manifestly* the best advertising medium, in Sumter. Had Roosevelt lived a few thousand years ago how many blunders our an? cestors would have escaped: provided they had taken him . as seriously as he seems to take himself. The crops of Sumter county are^finer than ever before and unless there is some 'disaster as great as the storm of August 31st 1893, the farmers will reap a reward such as they have hoped for these many years. John Sharpe Williams* biting satre and Henry G. Davis' telling exposure of the hypocracy and gross extrava? gance of the Republican party will not strike the Republican schoiars in politics ss good literature. ? The Eeputy Sheriffs who assisted the Statesboro mob to overpower the military guar.d doubtless feel proud of their work und will be suitably rewarded by promotion to better pay? ing offices by their grateful fellow citizens who composed the mob. The notification address by John Sharpe Williams should be widely cir? culated as a -Democratic campaign ?cument. Millions have already read it in the newspapers which had space reproduce it in full,;but since rtsis a production that will repay careful study it should be issued in a form suitable for preservation and conven? tion use. ' Thr view pf crop conditions in South Carolina puD?shed Thursday by the News and Courier gives a roseate viewbf the*situation and it is to be hoped that the harvest will more than realize the anticipations of the most optimistic. The review gives evidence of being carefully prepared and is probably as accurate and trust? worthy a presentation of the facts as could be made. The volume of passenger travel on the Atlantic Coast Line demands more and better passenger cars, but the public would_.be reasonably content if ?hers were more, if no better cars. Travel a few times on any cf the trains, the night train from Florence . in particular, and yon will realize the situation, especially if it is your for? tune to encounter the standing-rcom oi4y condition that frequently pre? vails. Pastor Stubbs of the Statesboro Hardshell Baptist Church is a beacon light of courage in dark and dismal re? gion of crime an anarchy. The stand that he has. taken against the mob murders sin his own community and in support of law and civilization proves tim to be both a brave and wise man and a worthy disciple cf Him who taught and practiced obedi? ence to the laws, both human and divine. . The sale of the controlling interest in Seaboard Air Jjine system to Thomas F. Ryan may mean the greater development of tho Seaboard as an in? dependent system, or it may result in the termination of ali expansion and the formation of a great " community of interest" railroad ccmbine made up of the Southern, the Atlantic Coast Line and the Seaboard systems that wild maintain the status ono of the railroad situation in the South and stifle all competition. Th situation at Shanghai, created by the acrion of the United States torpedo boat destroyer Chauncey, is regarded in diplomatic circles as crit? ical, but does not necessarily mean that this country will become involved in tbe ?var between Japan and Russia. The action of the Chauncey is believ? ed to have r?een in the nature of a precautionary measure to prevent a naval battle in the harbor, which would have resulted in the destruction of millions of dollars worth of proper? ty owed by neutrals. The suggestion casually thrown out a few weeks ago, that the Game Cock Ibity Carnival of 1894 be repeated this fall on an enlarged and improved scale was received wi tl) decided ap? proval by a few of our business men who have made an occasion to express their opinion, but as yet there has been no general expression of opinion on the 'subject. The Carnival week ten years ago was a success and bene? fited the town, as all admitted. Why isn't the suggestion that we in? vite our friends to see what we have accomplished in ten years a good one? If the negroes did not represent votes for the Republican party, the believers in mob law wo aid find in the promoters o? the benevolent assimila? tion and pacification methods pursued in the Phillippines invaluable allies. A few hundred reconcentrado camps in the South for negroes and two or three dozen "Maccabebe" regiments to do the dirty work would soon benevolently assimilate and pacify all the bad negroes. But negroes haye votes and it is a .political sin to ben? evolently assimilate a voter, hence there is no help to be had by the All Night Mob Clubs of Georgia, and elsewhere, from His Strenuosity I. The communication which we pub? lish, today relative to the suggested "Game Cock Carnival is written in an enthusiastitic vein and states the case somewhat strongly, but, in the main, truly. Conditions were, indeed, gloomy in 1894, but not quite so black and hopeless as our correspond? ent paints them. Notwithstanding the severe blow the town had receiv? ed by the absorbtion of the C. S. & N. R. R. by the A. C. L., and the deplorable condition of the farming in? terests of the county, resulting from" the low price cf cotton and the des? truction of crops by thee storm of '83, the people as a whole still possessed hope for the future and confidence in the ulitnaate growth and ; development of our county and town. I Hope, despite disaster, and confidence I in the face of untoward conditions are ever valuable assets, and it was up ! on these that the Sumter of today was builded by those who remained true and steadfast in their loyalty to Sum? ter in foul weather as in fair. The immigrationvjboomers and real estate agents of South Dakota lay . great stress upen the artesian weil possibilities of that State as an inducement to attract prospect? ive settlers. They also have a good deal to say in praise of the com? paratively mild climate and fertile soil-the climatic comparison being made with the polar regions, it is pre? sumed. The artesian well possibili? ties-as proven in recent years by hun? dreds of flowing wells-of all of this section of South Carolina are probab? ly as great as those of South Dakota and in climate and fertility of soil t-^e advantage is ali in our favor. Truck farming, where artesian wells can be easily and cheaply secured, is rich with possibilities. Our immigra? tion boomers should not overlook the artesian well when enumerating tpe advantages that eastern South Caro? lina possesses. A fertile soil, a mild and equable climate and a cheap and inexhaustible suppiy of water for irrigation when needed, are three prime requisites for successful and wealth prodaciug truck growing. The Sumter Light Infantry is not now receiving and has never received the'degree of encouragement and finan? cial support from the substantial citi? zens of Sumter that its merit and value to the community warrant. The maintenance of the company is a constant and tco heavy expense to the active members in proportion to the pleasure and benefits they individ? ually receive. The appropriations received from the State and national governments do not begin to defray the actual expenses of the organiza? tion, and it would be no more than fair for the community, as a whole, to bear a share of the borden that now falls upon the active members. There are a few contributing members who have always been loyal to the company, but they ere too few to be of material assistance. There should be at least one hundred contributing members, arjd twice that number would not be- too many. We believe that a consideration of the importance of maintaining the company will con? vince every public spirited man that he should, if his means permit, be on the list of contributing members. Think it over and send in an applica? tion for membership. Two cents a day will more than pay your dues. The predicament in which China finds herself placed by the conflicting demands of Russia and Japan is ont to embarrass any nation not sufficient? ly strong to defy either or both belli? gerents, and to adhere to a policy of strict neutrality. Russia insists that her battle scared warships wheh have taken refuge in Chinese ports ba pro? tected against capture or destruction by i he Japanese while repairs that are necessary to fit them for active duty are being made, while the Japanese are equally vigorous in demanding that the Russians warships be requir? ed to leave the protection of the neu? tral poits. China is not in position to offend either and so ha> done nothing so far as reports show to settle the issue. The probable outcome of the matter will be that the Japanese war? ships will enter the Chinese ports in which the Russian vessels have sought sanctuary and either capture or des? troy them. If this is dene Russia will unquestionably seek when the war is over to force China to pay an in? demnity great enough to replace the ships captured or destroyed by Japan. Poor old China is getting the butt end of the proposition all the way trough and will not only lose Manchu? ria no matter who is victor, but will find herself in hot water with both Russia and Japan. W ANTEDIA t once a man who is honest and sober and can furnish good recommendation to sell the New Improved Singer Sewing Machine. Experience not necessary. Liberal contract. Address: The Singer Sew? ing Machine Store. 1326 Main St., Co? lumbia, S. C. Aug. 10-2t* The promise that the Sultan of Tur key has just made tc our government, to the effect that ?ie'li be good and do most any^hig we want him to, sounds about as sincere as the one Roosevelt made to us about three years ago, when he declared that he would carry out the policies cf the departed Mc? Kinley. With the New York Sun-the organ of the Trusts-pegging away iorRoose velt, to the best of its venal ability, there is little fear that any sensible voter, vvho is opposed to these rap? acious combinations, will be fooled into voting for Mr. Roosevelt. The Sun only supports those who are the friends of the interests that own and control it. Amidst the reign of lawlessness in South Carolina^ scarcely a week hav? ing passed without one or more mur? ders or lynchings, there has not been a ; single homicide in Sumter county within two or more years. This is an enviable record and one to be proud of. All good citizens hope this record j will be. maintained for many more ! years. The Republican campaign committee are scattering Bryan's speech criticis? ing Judge Parker throughout the length and breadth of the land by the hundred thousand. Although Mr. Bryan says he has placed his cervices at the disposition cf the Democratic committee, he will scarcely be able to counteract the effect of his gratuitous contribution to Republican campaign literature. Preparations are being made by the attorney general's office for taking up the suit against the Southern brought to test the consolidation of the S. C. and "G. road with the Southern. The suit was filed in Kershaw county, and under tiae law, takes precedence over all other cases and will come up in October. It is not known yet whether the case when rtarted will be a jury or an equity proceeding. A statement has been going the rounds that the Outlook, cf which Dr. Lyman Abbott is editor, had said in substance that the most intellectual people in the South were negroes. In reply to an inquiry the e'ditcrs ci the Outlook say that they are at a loss to understand how the^ rumor started. " We cannot recall," they add. "any statement which we have made wbich could in the slightest degree give.rise to this idea." v The Russians have the neutral pow- j ers in an awkward dilemna at Shang? hai. They refuse to permit the Japan? ese to L-apture or destroy the Askold and Grosovoi and they are powerless to compel the Russian ships to leave or disarm, without resorting to forci? ble measures. The consuls have solemnly decided that China cannot shirk her responsibility, but as Gulna is impotent and cannot enfprce an observance of her neutrality, Russia is simply standing pat and defies both China and the neutral powers. THE CANDIDATE OF THE TRUSTS. Following the nnoncement of a few days ago that Mr. J. Pierpont Mor? gan has determined to support Roose? velt for President comes the statement that Mr. E. T. Stotesbury, of the Philadelphia firm of Drexel, Morgan & Co., has been selected as tho agent of the Republican National committee to solicit contributions to the cam? paign fund. It will be remembered that Chairman Cortelyou originally selected Mr. Thomas Dolan, of Phil? adelphia, to perform this important service. Dolan begged off, however, and was released under promise that he would provide a suitable man. In the selection of Mr. Stotesbury that promise has been more than amply ful? filled. Early in the period of discussing presidential possibilities Mr. Andrew Carnegie, who has the largest personal interest in the Steel trust, voluntarily offered to contribute half a million dollars to the fund in the event of Roosevelt's nomination. Soon after? ward Mr. John D. Rockefeller sent the cashier of his bank to see Roosevelt and after bis return anonounced that Roosevelt is good enough for him and that he is willing to make a generous contribution to the fund. A little later Mr. George J. Gould became a guest at the White House for lunch? eon. He got two of the young men in the service of hi3 Western railroad appointed to seats in the presidential cabinet and he is also satisfied with Boosey. Yet the Republican organs accuse Judge Parker of being the candidate of the trusts for the Presidency. The statement is so absurd on its face, that: nobody appeared to regard it as worthy of contradiction, but we may be justified in pointing out the fact thai Mr. Roosevelt has made terms with tho trusts and that the only con? spicuous trust magnates of the coun? try are enthusiastic workers in behalf of Roosevelt. lu fact, with the ex? ception of Mr. John W. Gates, all the conspicuously wealthy trust mag ntes have announced themselves for the President. That fact settles the question of which of the candidates are preferable to the trusts and tho "Republican prints are informed that there is no use in misrepresenting the facts. A FAVORED REGION. Koben Mills, the eminent architect and civil engineer, Surveyor Generai of South Carolina, writing in 1825 speaks as follows of the value and im- ! Lportanee of the High Hill section ; of Sumter county. j "The High H?ls of Santce are the ? j greatest natural curiosity in the dis- j trict. They are a spur from the sand j hills of the middle country, which are j our secondary mountains. The former j i take their rise a little above Jack's ; j Creek, about nine miles north cf Nel- j j son's ferry and from that fine body of ? ? brick mould iand in the Richardson j j settlement. Airer ccntinuing about ? j eight miles they become suddenly sand hills, diving rise to three delightful streams of water, to the planters be? low, and a little above Manchester. At the end cf eleven miles they again become red land which continues to Buck Creek, above Stateburg, nine' miles. These hills, to this point, ap? pear to hang over the Wateree swamps : but now they diverge, and turn tc the northeast, with one ridge in the mid? dle forming a backbone; breaking off into hills toward the Wateree, and I sloping off gradually towards Black river. Ai Bnck creek the hills again become sandy, which gradually re? creases to Bradford's Springs (l? or 16 miles.) A little above this place they join the sand hills of the middle country. Round Stateburg the high j hills of Santee are elevated about 300 feet above the bed of thc river, and command in two points a view of 30 miles. These lands are here generally laid off in small tracts for gentlemen's seats, and afford pure air and water : but the neighborhood of Bradfords1 spring is dry and elevated, and consid? ered tire most healthy. These hills, now generally called the Santee hills, give rise to all the head branches of Black river, and to many creeks that empty into the Wateree. They slope towards the former, and with the valley between them and . the latter, afford the best pine lands in the State, thickly settled. The sand hills of the middle country are thought to be of little value; but they furnish salubrious seats for the planters cn the rivers. Their height, and the ?raro dry air condense the vapors pass? ing from the ?ea and low country up? wards, which afterwards descend in showers, refreshing ?he CXOJ? and fer? tilizing the lands. For the last thirty years it has been observed that ail the summer showers\:ome from the sand hills. The only exceptions are when there is a spell of wet weather; then tiiey come from ail directions. These hills are evidently designed for wise purposes by a beneficent Providence ; for had the vapours been suffered to float so far from the middle country as the Alleghany mountains, they would hardly have returned to it in showers; but would nave been ex? hausted in the intervening country. These hills are admirably adapted to the cultivation of the vine : and if ever wine is made in cur State, the proba? bility is these will be covered with vineyards ; and thus become extremely productive. The soil of these hills is as rich as of the grape departments of France. * * * Several mineral appearances exhibit themselves in various p'aces in springs. The mest noted of these are the Bradford Springs, much freouenicd. The waters aro chalybeate, with a little sulphur, and prove higlhy tonic when drank freely." More than three quarters of a cen? tury have passed since the attention of the people of Sumter county and the world at large, for Mr. Mills's book on South Carolina was widely circulated, was so forcibly direeted to the remarkable adaptability of this section to grape and fruit culture, by Mr. Mills, one of the greatest author? ities of that day, but the High Hills^ still remain bare of vineyards and the fruit trees can be numbered Dy dozens where there should be thousands. It has long been a by-word that the peach crop in the High Hills never fails and that the finest peaches that we obtain are grown there, but the supply is so limited, as the result of the little attention that has been paid to fruit growing, that there is never enough to meet the local demand, not to think of shipping them to market. This is one of the mest favored sec? tions in South Carolina and if its natural adavntages were but utilized it would soon become one of the rich? est and most widely and favorably known regions in the State by reason of the advertisement its superior fruit products would be. ? When the day of scientific peach and grape culture ou a commercial scale comes for the High Hills of Santee the standard of per? fection on the markets wiii be fixed by the High Hills peaches and grapes. The land that is now cheap will be dear and those who regard cotton as the only money crop will marvel that they were blind to their opportunities so long. The success attained by the peach growers of Ridge Springs can be more than equalled in the High Hills if the same methods are followed with the same intelligence and persever ence. Cyclist Killed in France Tar is, Aug. 23.-George Leander, a prominent American cyclist lies dead here as the result of an accident while riding behind a motor cycle which was traveling at the rate cf fitty-seven miles an hour. We are now prepared to make contracts for Bagging and Ties for ! New 2 lb. Sugar Sack. New 2 lb. Jute, "Farmers' Brand." - New 2 1=4 lb. Jute. v New Arrow Ties, standard 45 lbs. to the bundle. We bought early and very largely, and have the right prices. . it will be to your interest to see us before buying. < The Welsh Neck ffigh Schcol. Has just closed a prosperous session, enroll? ing 194 boarding students. Its catalogues are now ready for distribution. Send us your address, and we will take pleasure in mailing one to you You will enjoy look? ing over it. J. W. GAINES, Prin., Hurtsville, S. CL Jane 15-'?rn J. D. Craig Furniture Co. I I ll 11 ll ? 'jjjJJ^jj^" |^^SBBBmMgBBC?OMl??WHllliS^S^^a T Funeral Directors =AND Licensed Embalmers, No. 202 North Main Street. With a full and complete stock of supplies, larger than ever before, we are better prepar? ed to render prompt and satisfactory .service. Calls attended promptly DAY" OR NIG-HT Day Phone, 14 - .Hight Phone, SOI. May 3ni KEEP US IN MIND. We buy and sell Real Estate .and collect Rents, in city cr country. " We sell all kinds of Insurance, including Fire, Lite, Accident and Health, representing only the strongest companies. We'll appreciate a share ai your business. WHITE & MCCALLUM, The Real Estate and Insurance Men. OFFICE NO. 1SS. MAIN STREET - - PHONE NO. 143. Mch 9-?y