Newspaper Page Text
<njc
m&t\tx.
VOLUME 62
LAGRANGE, GEORGIA, FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH 10, 1905.
NUMBER 6
ORGANIZED IN ATLANTA.
Atlantic & Birmingham Construction
Company.
Atlanta Journal 1 hureday.
Application for a charter for the
“Atlantic and Birmingham Con
struction company,” with a capi
tal stock of $3,000,000 was filed
early Wednesday afternoon in the
office of the clerk of the superior
court.
The petitioners are R. E. Cul-
linane, W. B. Stovall, F. M. Sisk
and S. J. Bradley. The company’s
main offices will be in Atlanta*
though it reserves the right to
open branch offices anywhere in
the United States. The company
will do a general ctnstructing and
contracting business for them
selves and others, including the
business of constructing and equip
ping, but not operating railroads,
telegraph and telephones, dealing
in real estate, buying stocks and
bonds and other thing.
The capital stock of $8,000,000,
will be divided into common and
preferred stock, to the par value
of $100 each. The incorporators
ask the right to increase their
stack to $10,000,000.
The main business of the com
pany wili be*the construction of
the western end of the Atlantic
and Birmingham railroad, into
the Alabama coal and iron fields.
Resolutions.
Since death with his relentless
gr/isp has laid his hand upon one
of our best beloved members,
Mrs. T. H. Whitaker, we,
the Daughters of the Confederacy
are,
Resolved 1st: That Mrs. Whit
aker was a splendid type of noble
wWmanhood and an ideal Chris
tian mother, neighbor and friend
an <Nre realize how desolate the
^fcome must be from which’her
spirit took its flight.
Resolved 2nd: That, vhile we
canftot understand the Providence
which has removed one so lovely
and bo useful from her home and
family, we would bow in submis
sion to His will who doeth all
things well, trusting that even
this dark cloud may have its sil
ver lining and that this grief
which hangs like a sombre pall
over the now desolate hearts of
her loved ones may be lifted until
they catch a vision of beautiful
beckoning hands and mother's
angel face.”
Not now, but in the coming years
It may be in the better land,
We read the meaning of our tears,
And then—sometime we’ll understand
Resolved 3rd: That as members
of the LaGrange Chapter of U.
D. C., we offer our deepest sym
pathy to the family who have
been so greatly bereaved in the
loss of this beloved mother, sister
and friend.
Resolved also that we seud a
copy of these resolutions to the
family and one to each of the city
papers.
Mrs. J. M. Tomlinson,
Mrs. M. A. Swanson,
Committee of U. D. C,
THE NEW COURT HOUSE.
Has Been Formally Turned Over to
The County Commissioners.
Public Recital.
A public recital will be given
in the auditorium of LaGrange
Female College Monday night,
March 18, at 8 o’clock. Miss Sue
Means will read James Lane Al
len’s “A Kentucky Cardinal.”
Music will be rendered by pupils
and faculty. Admission, adults
25cts., children 15cts.
Benefit Y. W. C. A.
Wanted—Progress w i t h o u t
spendthrift. A progressive ad
ministration of municipal affairs,
-but withal a conservative one.
Mr. W. E. Gray, our efficient
and clever barber, visited Griffin
Sunday.
The new court house has been
turned over to the county com
missioners, and with the exception
of a few finishing touches is com
pleted. The work of putting in
the furniture is going on, and in
a few days everything will be in
readiness for holding court which
is to convene next Monday, with
Judge Harwell on the bench.
The building and furniture
complete cost the county $51,500,
and we doubt if there ever was a
better all-round buildiug erected
for the money. The old biard of
commissioners, under whose ju
risdiction the building was begun,
has carried out the idea in the
construction of the building that
it should be arranged for conven
ience of the county’s officers, and
for holding court, as well as for
other purposes for which a court
house is intended. Without any
pretense to erect a building for
show, they went to work to give
the people of Troup county a
building which would last for
time to come; one that would in
every way serve the purposes of a
a court house. Instead of spend
ing five or ten thousand dollars in
outside ornament, they have ju
diciously expended this money in
the' interior.
To Mr. C. H. Griffin, former
chairman of the commissioners,
is due a great deal of credit for
the magnificent building which
now stauds in the center of the
square. He gave his personal at
tention to the work from the lay
ing of the first brick until the
present time to see that the best
of material entered into its con
struction, and that only the best
wokmanship was displayed. We
believe that the people will appre
ciate his efforts along this line,
and that the court house will
stand as an imperishable monu
ment to his name.
The whole building is fire proof,
is finished in oak and covered in
slate, with metal ceiling. In the
vaults for the ordinary and clerk,
is metal furniture, and there is ab
solutely nothing in them to burn.
The court room is a magnificent
piece of architecture, with galler
ies on either side. The building
is fitted throughout for steam
heat, and in every part electrical
ly lighted. One cannot go
through the building without be
ing impressed with the idea that
it is substantially built, and that
the contractors, Messrs. C. C.
Tetherow <fc Co., have faithfully
executed their contract.
The big clock, which is of the
celebrated Seth Thomas make,has
been in running order for some
time. It was put together by Mr.
Albert Lehmann, and certainly
reflects credit on that gentle
man’s ability and workmanship.
The clock arrived in 1,272 parts,
and the public can readily imag
ine the work of putting together.
The big pendulem itself weighs
158 pounds. The striking weight
is 900 and the running weight 250
pounds, while the bell and clock
complete weigh 0,000 pounds. The
clock is thirty feet below the bell
and dials. The dials are of plate
glass, three-eighths of an inch in
thickness and are ground on both
sides, and set in cast iron frames.
The bell itself weighs 1016 pounds.
The striking hammer weighs 75
pounds. So perfect is the mech
anism of the clock that in the last
three weeks it has varied just. four
seconds. Even this variation will
be remedied by Mr. Lehmann. It
is a fact not generally known that
the Seth Thomas Company always
send an expert to put a new clock
together, and in this case, had in
tended to do so, but Mr. Leh
mann’s reputation as an expert
was considered, and he was given
the job. How he has succeeded,
is too well known to need com-
“DOWN EASr.”
This Splendid Drama Played To
Large Audience Friday Night.
Last Friday night at the South
ern Female College auditorium,
the LaGrange Comedy Company
presented their comedy-drama
entitled “Down East” to one of
the largest houses ever secured in
this city by a home company.
The ^company is made up of
some of the best boys in La
Grange and the brightest. To
Bay, their effort Friday night was
a success would be putting it
mildly. Everyone present thor
oughly enjoyed the clean play
they gave.
The specialties between acts by
Messrs. Fowler and Evans were
unusually good, and made a hit
each time.
It would not be fair to make
special mention further than this,
as each actor had the proper con.
ception of his part and did well.
We understand the boys are
going to West Point Friday to
give a benefit performance for the
Ladies Memorial Association of
that city. We can consistently
bespeak for them a word of re
commendation and ask for them
a large house.
House Burned.
About eight o’clock Wednesday
night the two room servants house
in the yard and very near Mrs.
Enoch Cnllawav’s residence was
discovered on fire and the roof
almost entirely enveloped.
There was no one at home at
Mrs. Callaway’s, as she is in Flor
ida and Mrs. Nimmons was visit
ing in the city, and the servants
were away. The origin of the
fire is unknown us there had been
no fire in the house since Sunday.
The house was entirely destroy
ed, but there was no damage to
Mrs. Callaway’s residence, and
the loss is covered by insurance.
BRUCE--WILLIAMS.
Just as we are about to go to
press we learn of the marriage of
two of LaGrange’s young people
in Griffin. They are Miss Clyde
Bruce and Mr. Emmett Williams.
The marriage occurred Thurs
day morning at the home of the
groom’s brother, postmaster, It.
L. Williams, No further parti
culars have been learned. .
Mrs. Williams was the oldest
daughter of Mrs. J. T. Bruce, of
this city, and was beautiful and
accomplished.
Mr. Williams is also well known
in LaGrange, and their many
friends wish them much happi-
LOST OR STOLEN
One but-headed cow, pale
red, medium size, and one
dark grey Jersey steer
with horns sawed off to
about two inches long.
Liberal reward will be giv
en for information as to
where I can get them. W.
R. Fuller, LaGrange, Qa
ment. The bell can be heard a
distance of twj and a half miles.
The Reporter hopes that our
able commissioners will consider
Mr. Griffin’s suggestion in the
matter of placing a brick wall
around the court house twelve in
ches high, and a stone coping six
inches over this, the bricks from
the old clerk’s building, which is
to be torn down, to be utilized for
this purpose. We understood
some time ago that the old iron
fence is to be donated to the La
dies’ Memorial Association for
the Soldiers’ cemetery, and the
stone coping will help to beautify
the grounds around the court
house. It is earnestly hoped that
a nice job will be done, and that
the commissioners will not give
their consent to a cheap enclosure
after spending $50,000 on the
court house.
ON MR. EDMUNDSON’S
CANDIDACY FOR MAYOR
Mr. Editor:
To begin with, I think I can
truthfully say I have an aversion
to engage in a political discussion
of any kind, but as a citizen of
our beautiful city of “Elms and
Roses,” and one who has in his
humble way contributed in every
way possible to her growth and
prosperity, however small it may
have been; as one who now has at
heart her present and future in
terest and success; and one who
expects to spend the remainder of
his life within her gates, I desire
in view of certain reports which
are now being circulated on our
streets anent the approaching
Mayorality contest, to submit a
few plain facts, for the accuracy
of which, any one who may differ
with me, is most respectfully re
ferred to the City records, at all
times open to the inspection of
our people.
Before doing so, however, I
wish to repeat that 1 do not in
tend to be drawn into this politi
cal contest between two gentle
men, both of whom are my perso
nal friends and for whom I en
tertain high rgard, save to sub
mit a few facts and to see that
the truth with reference to cer
tain rumors which have been cir
culated on our streets is brought
out. We read in Holy Scriptures,
“by their fruits ye shall know
them,” and that great Virginian
Patrick Henry in his celebrated
speech for liberty, used the fol
lowing expression: “I know of
but one way of judging the future
and that is by the past.” Taking
this as a basis of what I shall say,
let us fairly and impartially look
into the record of Mr. Edmund-
son during his two years service
as Mayor of LaGrange. And in
this connection I desire to im
press upon your readers that I
have not the slightest intention
of disparaging the eminent pre
decessors of Mayor Edmundson
who have occupied this exalted
position in the past.
Now let us look very briefly in
to the term of office, covering the
fiscal years 1901-1902 and 1902-
1908, during which time Mr. Ed-
muudson served this City in the
capacity of Mayor. As stated
above, for the accnracyof the fig-
ures and facts stated below, I re
fer any one who doubts the cor
rectness of what I now submit to
the records.
First—Those in a position to
know can testify to the faithful
and very persistent efforts of
Mayor Edmundson to bring about
an adjustment between the con
tention and threatened litigation
of the Water Works Company
and the City growing out of the
contract made* number of years
ago, and one which I am inform
ed by the bpst legal authority, and
even conceded by* the City’s At
torneys could not be broksn; this
contract being absolutely and un
questionably binding upon the
City. In this settlement with
the Water Works Company, the
City finally succeded in obtaining
a discount of 10% on an accumu
lated indebtedness of $18,000.00
which saved to the City the sum
of $1800.00. In this same settle
ment, largely through his efforts,
at least during his admiiiis'ra-
tion, the City also got a 10% dis
count on all future payments of
water rental for a period of four
teen years from th9 date of the
adjustment, at $280,00 per year,
aggregating for the entire time
$8920.00.
Nor is this all. Not satisfied
with the above concessions by the
Water Company, the City forced
them to give, free of charge 20,-
000 gallons of water per day, and
in this connection will say, in my
judgement, the City would to-day
be without our present sewer sys
tem, for sewer puposes, but for
this concession. This item at the
usual rate of- 10 cents per gallon
would amount in fourteen years
to $10,200.
It is also true that since the
time of the settlement and agree
ment above referred to the addi
tional hydrants have been put in
and with the bright prospects now
confronting us, it will unquest
ionably be necessary to put in
more during the life of the renew
ed contract, the 10% discount is
to be given on all additional pay
ments—that is the rent on each
hydrant was $85.00 per year
straight, whereas under the new
contract, the City will get the
discount of 10% for those already
up or to be put in, reduoing all
to $81.50 per hydrant. Of course
it is impossible to give the
amount saved on this one item,
but you can readily see that it
will be considerable.
The above items alone save to
the City during the remaining 14
years, the life of the contract
from the time it Was made, a
grand total of $15,420.
Second—Who was Mayor of
the City of LaGrange, please tell
me, when our magnifioent system
of Publio Schools, unsurpassed in
Georgia, were established? The
records show John D. Edmund
son was. It is well nigh impos
sible to estimate with any degree
of certainty the amount saved to
the parents and patrons of this
school in the way of tuition alone.
Third—I am informed that for
time immemorial the amount re
quired of those who were Bubjeot
to street tax was $8.00 per annum.
Let him who doubts go to the re
cord and see for himself during
whose administration this amount
was reduced to $2.25 A very
small item you say? This is true
no doubt with a great number
who were able to pay the old
amount, but there were quite a
number of laboring people, poor
people, in other words, that this
reduction of seventy five cents
per year helped greatly. I think
the records will show that this
same man was Mayor when this
reduction was made.
Fourth—Examine for yourself
and ascertain in some way to
your own satisfaction, (the re
cords offer the surest way) during
whose administration the Ice Fac
tory was brought to LaGrange
and built, and see if you don’t
find it was accomplished during
this same gentlemen’s administra
tion.
Fifth—Would you mind mak
ing an additional investigation,
gentle reader, and in this sure
and safe way, find out who waB
Mayor of our City when the Sew
er System was contracted for and
put into operation? The gratify
ing feature about these expensive,
but necessary improvements, is
the tact that our tax rate has not
been increased one cent.
Sixth—Recall the amount of
work done on our streets during
Mayor Edmundson’s administra
tion. Go to Unity Mills. Also look
at the great improvement where
the old “plank walk,” remained
for so many years an “eye sore”
to our people. The new side
walks in different portions of the
City and the improvement gener
ally of our streets.
Seventh—Lastly, (although
other things could be included),
it has been charged on the streets,
that during his administration
the amount received by the City
iu the way of fines, was less than
that of any of his esteemed
predecessors. While it is true
Mr. Edmundson was never an un
reasonable man, yet I submit the
statement below to refute these
reports. Now as stated in the
outset, I havn’t the slightest in
tentions of reflecting in any way
on any former administration!,
because I presume they all did
their full duty whenever a case of
any character was brought before
them. I simply give the figures
and let them speak for themselves.
Let us go back several years, since
our population has materially in
creased, and give the total
amounts received during the two
years in which the gerltlemen
whose names appear below filled
this honorable position and see
what the records show along this
line.
We will take first, the admin
istration of Dr. T. S. Bradfield,
covering the period of 1897-1^98,
first term, and 1898-1899, second
term. The total amount receiv
ed by way of fines was, according
to the records $681.80.
The two years during which
time Mr. T. J. Harwell held the
office of Mayor, as follows 1889-
1900, and 1900-1901,show the total
•amount received by way of fines
was, $2148.89.
Mayor Edmundson’s period cov
ered the following two fiscal years,
1901-1902 and 1902-1908, the to
tal receipts for fines amounled to
$2184.82.
Now Mr. Editor, in conclusion,
let me say the above statements
and figures speak for themselves.
They need no elaboration or ar
gument. What I have submitted,
TO BUILD PAST0RIUM.
First Baptist Church Will Erect New
Home For Pastor.
At a meeting of the board of
deacons, together with other
members of the First Baptist
church, on Monday night, the
matter of a pastorium was dis
cussed.
The church owns property too
far removed from the church to
be used as a home for its pastor,
And this will be Bold and a lot
close in purchased and new build*
lug erected, provided a suitable
residence already erected cannot
be purchased. It is the desire of
the members of the "church that
their pastor have a more conven
ient home by the next renting
season.
A committe, composed of the
following gentlemen, was named
to take this matter in charge: H.
T. Woodyard, chairman, Fuller
E. Callaway, J. H. Edmondson,
J. C. Roper, R. O. Pharr, and J.
O. Bell.
It is believed that every mem
ber of the church will enter
heartily into this movement.
NEGRO MISSIONARY,
To Speak at S. F. College Wednes
day Night of Next Week.
W, H. ■ Shepherd, a Presbyter
ian Missionary who has spent
years of his lifeon the upper Con
go river in darkest Africa, is to
lecture at the Southern Female
College chapel on Wednesj
of next week. No admission
be charged, and we understand
that no collection will be taken.
It was in the year 1890 that Mr.
Samuel N. Lapsley. a white mis
sionary from Alabama and W. H.
Shepherd founded a mission on
the Congo river. The white man
died, but the negro built u£ a
splendid mission, and there is
now a church of over 2,800 mem
bers as the fruits of his labors,
and of those who assisted hiig.:'.
The Presbyterian Standard, of
Charlotte, S. C., says this of
Shepherd: “We should name him
the greatest negro of this genera
tion.”
Similar reports come from oth
er papers.
There should be a good attend
ance to hear him " at the college
chapel next Wednesday night.
The gallery will be reserved for
the colored people.
Bishop Candler Coming.
The commencement address at
the LaGrange Female College will
be delivered by Bishop Warren B.
Candler on Tuesday, June 6th.
The commencement sermon will
be preached by Retf. John A. Rice,
of Montgomery, Ala., on the Sun
day before.
The commencement of this old
institution promises to be the
best ever held.
“The wrecks of the world are
the timid hearted. Those who
are resolute reap the reward.”
Cheerfulness is a duty we owe
to our neighbors as well as our
selves.
Death at DeLoach.
Mrs. Mattie Hadaway who has
been ill for several weeks died
Monday night at 12 o’clock, at
her home n*ar DeLoach. She
was buried Wednesday at 11
o’clock at Wehadkee church. Mrs.
Hadaway was highly esteemed by
all who knew her. Friends and
relatives have our cincerest sym
pathy. Rev. Jesse Holliday con
ducted the funeral.
is simply in the interest of truth
and to do a faithful official that
justice which every man is cer
tainly entitled to. Fair Play.
