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LOCAL AFFAIRS.
DUTB1BDT10!«.
Subscribers*
Advertisers.
Sacd In your subscriptions. There Si no postpone
ment. December Slet, eerenl thousand dollar*, s
beuntlfnl piano, and other valuable presents will be
given to subscriber*.
Admrtteera ehonld not Call to nae Toe Cozstitutios
or the holidays.
NO POSTPONEMENT.
Big Presents for Some, De
cember 31st.
Frown the People.
Subscription Receipts Booming.
Fetters by Hundreds Pouring In.
now JEITOSOX, ot,
JzrzBSOX. Jackson, County, (is., Dee. £0,1873.
Jftstr*. IK A. Hemphill A Co : Enclosed ptesse
flad $10 for the daily Constitution, subscription to
commence with Christmas day.
Very reepectfully.
CLUB now WIDDLE OEOBGIA.
Dawsonville, Oa., December 20th, 1873.
IT. A. Hemphill A Co , Atlanta. Oa. :
OSXLMSW-Kodoasd please And $12. for which
please scud one copy of Toe Weekly Constitution
ter twelve months to she foUow.ng at Dawson ville,
<H.. via:
DE8.
018.
JUS.
SC.
1>> s
T. II. Respectfully, .
now SLAB AW A.
Opelika, als., December 20,1873.
Ur. W. A. Hemphill:
Iikar Sm—Ibcloscd yon will find an order for $t
for IBs Contitutijn for 1873. Please send me a
card. Yors
brought in contact with the teachers and other pupils
would brighten ms the rays of the son. If the people
would visilt the Public Schools they would become
convinced of their advantages and benefits. The
High Schools prepared its graduates to teach.
Speeches were made by repreeen tativea from each
of the cla-eee. end compositions read. The boys did
well In tbelr papers, their examination, their
speeches and their competitions.
STABBED TO DEATH.
“ Trusty »» Prisoner Stabbed to
Death— me murderer a Fad
of nineteen.
Sir. W. L, Clifton was sometime since brought up
from Rutledge on a charge of Ku-EluiUm, and
ptesded guilty in the United States District Oiurt to
atsaolt on a nVr°- Be was sentenced to imprison
ment, bat belnc considered a “fruity,” wss allowed
■prison bounds.” Yesterday morning, we learn
that he eccompanied a relative, who had two nn-
broke mules in town,beyond Wwt End. home three*
fontlhs of a mile beyond West End, it Is said, they
met James Batteree and a yon;h named Silvey, driv
lug wood carts. The moles showing great aversion
to pasting the carts, Clifton asked the boys to torn
tbelr horses and carts to one side of the road. This
they declli ed to do, whereupon Clifton seised one of
tie horses by the bridle to tarn him aside. Rajtercc
at once stabbed Clifton in the left breast, between the
second and third ribs, in flitting a mortal wound.
Clifton was carried into a house near by. Drs. E. J
Bosch andW B Armstrong were sent for, and prompt
ly rendered him all the attention possible.
Batteree la between 18 and 19 years oid, and Silvey
It a youth of about 14. Silvey was arrested la the
ufteraoon by C. C. Green, Deputy Sheriff.
At sundown Clifton wss not dead, bnt it was fear
ed that he could not live throngh the night.
Silvey and a b. other of the murderer, who wit-
cessed the killing, are in the Suucn.Houae. Up to
late hour tbo murderer, James Batteree, had not
been arrested.
■ Respectfully.
non tub state or nusissirri.
Brunswick P. O, Issaquena, Co., Biss.
Hour*. Urn. Hemphill A Co: - Eucluaea flue ten
dollars to pay my eubMuipunn to The Daily Con
stitution for 1874. Please acknowledge receipt and
send me a card u your distribution.
Very respectfully,
n. j.
A CLUB TOO* ALiBAMA.
CriL KA. At a
Utun. 31. A. HtinphUl A Co.
Gentlemen:—Sent yon ten dollars by express on
Tuesday, loth Inst, from Opelika. Ala., for toe earn,
send Weekly Constitution to Mrs. , Co.umbus
Oa., two years; Mr. , Society Hill. Ala., one year;
Mr. , Society Hal, Ala., one year. Add one, ear's
subscription to that already on jonr book* for Hr.
. Yours, .
FROM WASHINGTON COUNTY.
Davisboro, Washington county, Oa.,)
December 19, 1b73. f
Mem*. IF. A. Hemphill A Co.: Gentlemen—Eu-
doted please fiud $.0, lor wuicu send me ti he Con
stitution lor ono year, and card in Distribution to
como off on the 3utb instant.
Very respectfully.
rncx ax adxibeb or the conbtitution.
InwiNTox, Ga., December 18,1873.
Ediiort Constitution:—Hite It Is at last, ten dollars,
snb.-cripuon to urn Daily Constitution for twelve
months, and for a card in the distribution. I should
have renewed my eubccriptlon sooner, as 1 think
your paper is one cf the best published in the South,
nut tor the reason stated In a former letter. 1 aui
pleased with the success ot your undtrwking. lam,
gentlemen. Your*, &o.
FROM SOUTHWEST OEOBGIA.
Thomasvhxb, Ga., Deo. 18,1873.
EdUon Constitution: Gentlemen—Enclosed please
fina $iu,amuuut of my subscription for the year 1874,
1 believe from the Sib of January next.
Very truly your friend, M.
Baunzsyille, Ga- December 18, 1873.
TF. A. HamjMU A Vo, Atlanta, Gar-Ratlowd
please flad a check for ten donate lor The Daily
Constitution, for 1874. Please send card, is 1 waul
an interest In the great distribution, and oblige.
Very respectfully, jours, .
Here Is a club of ten dallies from Southwest Geor
gia:
Messrs TF. A. HemphiU A Co;
Picas j fiud euoiuMid poet office Order for
, from Jaooary.30, '73, to January 28,'75... $70
The fire that eanasd the alarm to be sounded Mon
day night was the burning of Howell's factory, four
miles from the city, on Peachtree street Got. Clark
Howell was engaged In p it:ing up machinery In his
mill, but had stopped for the Christmas holidays. The
building’and machinery were insured for $27,000.
The loss will, perhaps, bo covered
by the insurance. We have been unable to ascertain
the origin of the fire. Tbs destruction of thla cotton
mill Is a public calamity. Colonel Howell fa one of
our most energetic and enterprising citizens, and has
done mnch to coltr.but* to the insterlal prosperity of
this section. We are pleased to learn that Colonel
Howell will rebuild at an early day.
, December 18, ’73, to December 18, ”74.
S4C.
Please send to moa card for each in your Distribu
tion (off to get the Oonatltn Ion building) by retain
mail. Yours truly. .
FROM XEWIAX—ALL.RIGHT,
Kewmax, Ga., December 20,1873.
Messrs. IF. A. HemphiU A Co.:
Dear Sirs: Enclosed find eight ($8) dollars, for
wbicb yon will send lonr (4) receipts for The Wesk-
lt Constitution for one year, also a ticket that will
draw tne hugest amount cf gold. You promised me
if 1 would send yon four subscribers you would let
■oy subscription go in tbs c ub, which you will find
on your fcovks, December tltn.
Yours, etc., ——
SOUTHERN GEORGIA STILL CO NISO UP.
Albany, Da., December 18, 1873
XT. A. HemphiU A Co.:
Gentlemen—I enclose to your address ten dollars
to be applied th the pay of The Constitution for the
ensuing year under vour gift arrangement (being one
of your daily subscribers), apd also send you one
dollar to pay for the bead notes of the decisions of
the present teim of the supreme Coon.
Yours truly, —-
FRON FORSYTH COUNTY—TWO PAILIES.
Cuauiso, Forsyth County, Ga.
Mam. TF A. HemphiU A Co.: Gents-I this dr
inclose to yon $«i for two daily Constitutions will
gift cards.
Ion will enclose the cards to me. 8end ons paper
to , with ticket No. 1,874, or as near that number
as you have. Send one paper to—, with ticket No.
7, or as atar that number as yon have.
hespectfuily.
BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL.
Interesting Closing Excrcises-Stlr-
rinjc Speech bp Governor
Brown, President of
the Board of
Education* *
A PUBLIC CALAMITY.
CHEAP TRAHSP0RTATI0N.
flic United States Senatorial Com<
mlttee—Argument of Col* B. W.
Frobell in Favor of tbo Great
’Western Canal—Hcport
of major McFarland
—Astonishing Ex
hibits.
The doelog exercises of the Boys* High School
W«o very Interesting. Wo weie pleased to note the
attendance ot quite a number of our leading citizens
yesterday.
The pupils were eximlned in the several branches
O’ study yesterday. The teachers of the Girls* High
School were present Many questions were pro
pounded by Miss E E. Latimer and UUa C. Taylor,
aid answered very satisfactorily.
After the examination was concluded, the eeveral
clisics met In the Hall below. Sevoral of the boys
declaimed, when Gov. Biown, President
of the Board ot Education was called
for,, and responded in one of bis
happiest veins. He spoke for abont forty
minutes, and enthused boys, audience and teachers.
He portrayed the immense advantages afforded by the
fine public school system of Atlanta, and urged upon
the pupils of now fixing their minds upon soma ob
jock Good lawyers, doctors, clergymen, architects,
mechanics, etc-, ware valuable additions to society. It
was possible that they would select some one of these
and they should now start with a determination to
suoesed. In the pnbllo schools of Atlanta
an opportunity waa afforded to every
class in the community to educate their children,
and there waa no reaeon why any should not avail
themselves of Ita benefits. Among the children in
the Public Schools there m'ght be many bright
jewels llrem among the poorer classes who, by being
The United States Senate Committee on Transpor
tation held a meeting at . room 43 of the Kimball
House yesterday. Hon W Wlndom, Hon John Sher
man, Hon H G Davis, Hon J R West, Hon 8 B Con
over and HonT M Norwood were present
There were quite a number of our leading citizens
present Among them we noticed Mayor elect S B
Spencer, Aldermen Bice and Langston. W A Dawson
Bsq, and others.
Colonel B.W Frobell made ths argument in behalf
of the Atlantic and Great Western Canal. He sub-
mitted three tables showing the value of Atlanta aa a
heme market for the products of the West
Table No, 1 gave the amount and average value of
firm products shipped through Chattanooga and Dal
ton Sonth to Atlanta via Western and Atlantic Rail
road in 187). The freight mentioned is in car load
lots.
Bacon, 114.611,879 lba. avenge 11c per lb, $12,603.'
251; Briley and Bye, 49,258 bushels, average $1 40
per bushel $'.6,361; Corn, 3,325.633 bushels, avenge
95c per bushel, $2,626,780; Floor, 3C0.653 barrels,
average $9 50 per barrel, $2,903,232; Hay, 4g 618 bales,
avenge $32 per ton, $616,448; Live Hogs, 10,696,000
lbs. avenge 57 per lb, $594,800; Cattle and Sheep,
5,904,000 lbs, average 4C, $236,16); Oats, 320,699
buthrls, average 60o per bushel, $251,418; Potatoes,
apples and onions, 29,740 btrrels, average $5 per bar
rel, $152,700; Wheat, 708.863 bushels, average $t 62
per bushel, $1,134,180; Whisky, 26,079 barrels, av
erage $50 per barrel, $1,303,950; Horses and mules,
22.000, avenge $150, $3,319,000. Total value, $2 5,-
914.281.
Freight chuges from St, Louis to Atlanta, Green
Line rates September 16th, 1873, per 100 pounds: Ba
con SI; barley and rye 43; com 35 7-25 per btuhel;
floor$127 per battel; hay 66; live hogs $1 43; cattle
and sheep $140; oats 63; apples, potatoes and onion a
03; wheat 67 4 5; per bushel; whisky 84; horses $1 40.
Charges from same to Savannah per 100 lbs: Bacon
75c; barley and rye 70c; com 80 1-5c; hay 70c; live
hogs $140c; cattle and sheep $1 49c; oats 73r; pota
toes, apples and onions 70c; wheat 44 1-10; whisky
75c; horses and mules $1 40.
Charges from same to Atlanta, per ton: Bacon
$16 80; barley and rye $12 CO; com $12 60; hay $12 60
live hogs $28; cattle and sheep $28; oats $12 60; ap
ples, potatoes and onions $12 60; wheat $12 60; whisky
$16 80; horses and moles $28.
Charges from the same to Savannah, per ton: Bacon
$15; bsr!ey and rye $14; com $14; hay $14; live hogs
$28; oats $14; potatoes, apples and onions $14; wheat
$14; whisky 14; horsesand males $28.
The second table is an exhibit of tho amount and
value of various products shipped via Chattanooga
sonth to Atlanta over the Western A Atlantic Ratiwimii
in 1872. Miscellaneous freight embraces everything
not shipped by carload, such as poultry, tobacco, but
ter, eggs, brandies, wines, etc.
Coal, 37,873 tons, average value $7 50 per ton
$273,040; cotton, 16,938 bales, average 17e. per pound.
$1,440,630; furniture, 315 car loads, average $4,000
per car load, $315,000; lime, 14,626 barrels, average
$1 75 per barrel, $25,420; lumber, 73 car loads,
average $15 CO per car load, $4,827 ; pig and
scrap Iron, 714 car leads, average $48 to
per ton, $277,136; manufactured iron and ma
chinery, 193 car loads, average $1,000 per car, $193,-
003; aalt 53,871 sacks, average $2 per sack, $167,764;
slate, tear load, average lie ptr foot. $236; railroad
iron, 35) car loads, average $36 per car, $244,300;
miscellaneous freight 22.720 tens, average 25c per
pound, $ll,369,0u0; to’al value of both tables, <40,-
115,033.
In comparison with Atlanta, the Beports of the Bu
reau of Statistic* Commerce and Navigation 1871 and
1871 show the amount and value of certain products
exi orted from New Orleans in 1371, viz: Bacon
4,673,371 lbs, $549,881. Barley and lye 33 bushels,
$50; com 5(8,945 bushels, $494, 590; flour 163,146
bbla, $1,075,165; hay, 334 tons, $9,297; 248,068 lbs.
pork, $28,869; salted beet; 707,200 lbs., $43,791; oats,
84,300 hush., $19,110; potatoes, apples and onions,
16,741 bosh-, $20,518; wheat, 12,510 bush., $17,710;
whliky. 1,694 gallons, $2,050; horses and mules, 37,
$1,140.
To Atlanta total value $25,914,281
From New Orleans 2,181,176
freight to Atlanta $9,450; total oost $20,050; anaver-
ageof $35 per ton freight and of $39 26 per ton at
tne furnace.
984 tons of iron were purchased at a cost at the
mines of $3,255; the freight wss $L551; total cost
$4,816; average per ton at mines $2318; per ton
fre'gnt $15 76.
Four hundred and fifty-six tons of stud rock cost
$839 at the mines, $670 freight and in all $1,6S0.
Average per ton at the mines $18 20, per ton freight
$1469.
Nine thousand two hundred and eighty tons of
coal cost $23,600 at the mines, and $30,000 freight in
all $53,600. The average per ton at the mines was
$2655, while the avers?o per ton of freight was
$3233.
His argument was sn able and exhaustive one, for
tified by fans and fignres well authenticated. His
frets were “immensely accurate,'’ in the language of
a dlitlnguislud oiator and jurist He presented maps
of the prop sed route and explained them. He left
to Mejor McFarland to describe the phjsteal fsitnrca
of the route, and confined himself to its influence on
trade.
The vast interests, common to all sections of the
country, involved in tho opening of lines of water
communication between the Atlantic seaboard and
the. great “basin cf the Mississippi.” entries the pro
posed routes to the immediate and earnest attention
of the United States Government. The necessity for
cheaper transp irtaticn is vital and urgent and the
beet means of seeming it is a question upon the wise
and speedy solution of which depends the continued
priK-pei ity and contentment of the country.
To the West and South this question is of peculiar
Importance. Their interests are In a great measure
ideuticel. being the two great producing sections.
The benefits of cheap tiantportatlon most befell by
all other sections in an almost equal degree. In the
four States of Georgia, Florida, Sonth Carolina and
Alabama, there is an annual deficiency of fifty mil
lion bushels of grain, which mast De supplied from
the West
This deficiency is increasing, owing to the great
decrease of available farm labor and the rapid In
crease of the non-producing population of those
States. When tho deficiency in the other Southern
States and the consequent high prices lor subsistence
are taken into conside ration, it wilt be set n at once
that no question is of such vital moment to the Sonth
as cheap transportation.
Since 1866, the value of cotton (raw and manufre-
tuied) exported from the United States, amounts to
$1,5(0,0110.000. This is about 60 per cent of oar total
exports In value. Cotton la indeed oar only reliable
and remunerative article of export and la the real
basis of the wealth of the whole country.
roe present high rates of fre'ght prevent the ex
portation of grain from the United States almost en
tirely, although our surplus is sufficient for the
wants of thecivllized world. They also compel the
Southern States to employ a large portion oftbeir
limited labor In the production of food crops, (:o
which their sol] and cUmate are not adapted,) and to
that extent deprive the West of a market
To lllastrate: the average production of corn In the
four States mentioned Is ten bus els per acre. To
make up the deficiency in the quantity now produced
it would be necessary to cnltlvate at least five million
(5,000,0o0) acres. This acreage devoted to cotton
would yL-ld at least 1,750,060 bales, worth, at fifteen
cents per pound, $156,000,(00. Deduct from Ibis
the value of the corn which the sune acreage would
produce, and we have $75,000,000 to represent the
amount of loss -offered annually by the Southern and
Western farmers from alack cf UcUlties fer a cheap
interchange of products.
The direct lots is greatly increased by the refl.x
operation of the causes under consideration. The
hi*h price of food Increases the coat of the manu
facture as well as of the production of cotton, and so
of every other article we need. While the Western
farmer realizes bat a pittance upon his teeming crops
every manufactured article which he uses comes to
him bnrdmed by onerous and oppressive tariffs.
Cheap transportation from the West wonld not only
cheapen food, nnt wonld, as a consequence, also
cheapen labor. This result woulhenable the manfre-
turer to supply our wants at greatly reduced pricee,
this route; and it remains for ns to complete the work,
which she has so well began. The route has been
surveyed by distinguished engineers of the War De
partment and haa been pronounced by them emi
nently feasible.
It offers the following advantages :
First, cheap transportation. According to the offi
cial reports the coat of transporting z ton of grain
from St. Louis to Savannah, by thla route, wonld be
$488. It coets, by rail $14 *0. The laving uponeacb
ton wonld be $9 62—amounting in the aggregate to
abont $14,OCO.OCO per annum, upon grain alone, to be
divided between the producer and the consumer.
Second, This route wonld be open the entire year,
never rendered Impracticable by ice in winter, nor by
drought in summer.
Third It would greatly Increase the coasting trade
furnishing employment during the winter months,
when the Niagara ship canal shall be opened, to the
e team ere and other vessels engaged during summer
upon the lakes. Fourth. The route pasaas through
immense forests of yellow pine; and the West would
ba able to obtain the beat lumber in unlimited quan
tities. and at low prices. Fifth. It opens all the South
ern States easts! the Mississippi river, as a market
for its grain, bacon, hay and other products, the
demand for which will constantly increase. In
tnte tho WeBt would be absolutely without a
competitor. Sixth. It will furnish cheap
reimportation for raw cotton to the other sections,
and for the manufactured article in return. Suoh
ed vintage* wonld certainly develop the manufacture
of cotton to avast extent in the Western and North
western States, ted Eaitern Sta'es.
It is proposed to connect by canal and slack-water
navigation the Coosa, Etowah and Ocmnlgee Rivers,
the Tennessee River at Guntersville, Alabama, with
the Atlantic Ocean, at Savannah, Georgta.
Commencing at Huntersville, the most southern
point reecked by the Tennessee River, thence to
Coosa, thirty miles distant which it enters and fol
lows to Rome, Georgia, up to which point the Cooca
River innavigable tor large steamboats stall seasons
of the year.
From Rome, the canal follows the Etowah River to
its nosrest point of contact with the Ocmnlgee, and
thence down the latter steam to navigable water and
the Atlantic Ocean.
Bv this means the entire navigable waters of the
S ates of Alabama, East Mississippi and West Florida
will be connected with the vast inland tea, comprised
in the term, “Mississippi River and its tributaries,’’
also the navigable system of the States of South
Carolina, Georgia, Florida and a part of North Caro
lina, embracing about five thousand miles of water
easily navigated by vessels of light draft, used npon
canals. These vessels wonld penetrate tbo streams
and estnaries above referred to, into almost every
portion of these six States—States that produce the
major portion of the cotton raised npon this con-
tinei t
la the construction of this work, the company
asks ne land grant subsidy or appropriation of
money. It proposes to build this canal with Ita own
means, asking only that the government will assure
the holders or the company’s bonds that the interest
they are entitled to will be paid by the company as 1.
matures; and, to eave the United States hirmless in
its undertaking, the entire work is mortgaged to the
o vernment, including its property, rents, tolls and
revenues of every description.
The company does not ask the indorsem ent of the
p'incipsl of the bonds, bat as fast as it complete* ten
miles of its canal, it asks that the interest be guaran
teed on its bonds to the extent of $80,(00 per mile,
We have only epace to synopsise his arguments.
By well authentica.ed figures he demonstrated that
■he growth of New York was due to the Erie Canal
and cheap’raesporiation; that cheap food would re
duce the cost of the production of cotton, thereby
enabling cotton growers to realize more on lower
prices and overcoming the competition of East India;
that wheat conld be lald.down stench rates as tobreak
up the Russian monopoly of the European grain
trade. Grain conld be transported from. Be. Louis to
Savannahat G’i cents per buehel.
At the close of his argument, Colonel Frobell was
complimented by the committee for its ability.
Major Walter McFarland, United States Engineer
and wcnld enable him to compete ancceastnlly abroad, arrtrgdal.half past ope, and gave to the Committee
’. -—-■ - — ' “ ’ ’■* ‘ IhfcleEUit of hia Eurvcy, as contained In his reply to
Gov. Smith. Theio will be 275 miles of canal proper,
70 miles of slack-water navigation and 943 miles of
river navigation, making 1,238 miles from St. Loui s
to th6 sea. Very little excavation will be required.
Its estimated cost is $35,000,0(0. Some $6 009,000
will be required for improvement of rivers. This is
the ontslde limit of cost, and esn be reduced fonr or
five millions. His explanation of the route was ex
plicit and satisfactory.
This 1”, he considered, the rafest, surest, shortest
and chtapsst route, costing between $12,000,0£0 acd
5,(00.000 lees than the James River and Kinawha
CaLsl, which stops at tbe Ohio Blver.
Col A J McBride, from the Committee of tbe Cham
ber of Commerce, submitted tbe report of tbe exports
and imports of Atlanta, the main features of which
have been given in our annual review. There were
some facts presented, however, that we only omit for
want or space. tt&t
Mr R O Robson, and Mr Thomas B Walker, of the
Green Line, were examined by the Committee
l to the workinge of that line
They gave a succinct and comprehensive statement
of tbe workings of tbe Green Line.
Mr. P. H. Baiford was before the committee, and
explained his Coast Line Canal. He presented all the
facts concerning this project In a clear and forcible
manner.
Gov. Smith was not able to attend the meetings of
the committee by reason of indisposltioh. He sab
mitted, however, letters from James Noble and
Wade S. Cothran, ol Rome, and O. W. Howard, of
Kingston, on tbe coal and iron interests, and a state
ment of the value of products of the counties
through which this canal is to run.
The Commit ee will be in session this morning,
and leave at noon for Mobile.
The Committee whl'e here, by their deportment
and bearing, have displayed a deep earnestness in the
subject of their, investigations, and have shown a
desire to elicl’.all the facts connected with it They
have made a fine impression here, and ehonld they
return here again will meet with a cordial welcome,
Their mission is one of Peace.
Atlanta .in Excess $23,738,105
Tbs statistics of Iks Scofield Bolling ;Mill from
January 1 to MoYambsr 1, 187$, give asms «*-Tfflng
fads:
2,701 ton* of piffrsa aostatths mines $10,000; the
as well as at home. Our aana&ctorles would incie&se,
our exports would be doubled, our shipping interests
revived and the balance of trade would be largely in
our favor Instead of against us aa It now Is.
Those States wa'ertd by tbe Mississippi river an d
its tributaries are the granary ot the Union, and
might be the granary of the world, bnl isolated as
they virtually are. for the want of cheap and adequate
transportation, existing evils must increase and
spread until poverty and bankruptcy overshadow the
whole land.
The entire value of a bushel of corn, transported a
thousand miles by rail, Is consumed oy tbe cost of
transportation. Ibl* leaves no profit to the carrier,
none to the shipper, and not one cent to the producer.
So that if the railroad should carry corn for its actual
coat, and nothing more, from fct Louis to Savannah,
or from Chicago to New York, tbe producer would
still receive no adequate remuneration for hie
labor. Neither can tbe indefinite multiplication of
railroads, nor any legislative restriction aa to freight
charges, enro the evil, so long as the actual cost of
operating railroads remains nndimlniehed. Until
this cost shall be reduced, by means not now known,
a resort to either of the remedies proposed will prove
a mere expedient, which, in the end, will snre>y dis
appoint public expectation. We do not want expe
dients, or partial remedies. A cure of the evil Is de
manded by the farming interest of the country; and
to nothing short of this Bhou'd we look for perma
nent relief. In seeking this relief, the first step to be
taken Is to find a lees costly mode of transportation
than that by reU. Experience teaches ns that water
furnishes the cheapest means of transportation
known to the commercial world, and there
is bnt little reason to donbt that the eola
tion of this whole question will be found to re-t
upon tbe construction of great lines of water commu
nication between the West and the Seaboard, wher
ever nature has provided a way. Build the Niagara
Ship-Canal, connecting the lakes by an unbroken
chain of navigation from Chicago to the sea; connect
lake Champlain by ship-canal with the Hudson;
enlarge the Erie canal, if possible, extend yonr water
lines from tbe iake3 to the Mississippi by every pro
posed rente, where nature has provided a waj; im
prove the navigation of yonr rivers so that barges
may pass through their entire length without hin
drance, and you will have done more to relieve the
country from its present troubles than we justly hope
to secure by any other means. In this way the rail
roads may be made the feeders and distributors for
the great trade arteries, and the causes which now
Induce them to enter into extensive leases and combi-
nations, in many instances so injortons to the public
Interest, would, in a degree, cease to exist.
A glance at the map will be sufficient to ahow that,
from the great lakes to the Mississippi river, there is
a vast expanse of country, divided by the Apalachian
chain, which separates the waters of the Atlantic
from those which flow Into the Gulf of Mexico. The
Ohio and the James rivws have their sources am ong
the mountains of this chain, and farther south, also,
the Tennessee, the Coosa and the Ocmnlgee. Recent
surveys have demonstrated that it is feasible to con
nect by canals ths Ohio with the James river, and the
Tennessee with the Ocmnlgee, and thus, so to speak,
turn the Mississippi into the Atlantic at Norfolk aud
at Savannah. The merits of the James river and the
Kanawha canal have been folly discussed, and we wll
not pause here to repeat the man y reasons which hare
been offered in favor cl this great work. We crave
yonr attention, however, for a moment, while we point
oat some of the advantages which wonld flaw from
the construction of the Atlantic and Great Western
ftsnml, connecting the Mississippi river; through the
Tennessee river, with the Atlantic ocean at Savsnn ah
Georgia.
The Tennessee' enters ths Ohio a short distance
above the confluence of the Utter with the Mississip
pi. From this point the general direction of the Ten-
necseeis southeast, to its great bend at Guntersville,
in the Slate of Alabama. At that point the Goosi acd
the Tennessee approach each other—there being only
a narrow neck of land between them. Across this
isthmus a canal thirty miles long would connect these
two rivers, and open navigation to Rome, Georgia.
From Borne the route follows the Xtowah ta ita near
est point of approach to the Ooaalgee river, and down
the latter to the city at Macon, and thence to the sea
•’Society News.”—Ia this city, Decsmber 24th, by
Rev. J. H. Martin, Pastor of the First Presbyterian
Church, E. H. South-worth, of Lpckport, New York,
was married to iiisi Grace E. Morrison.
The bride is a sister-in-law of Mr. Carley, of tbe firm
of Carley, Duck A Co., and the bridegroom a young
lawyer of Lockport, New York. The marriage cere
mony was perform id at the p.-ivate residence or the
officiating minister, in the presence of a few special
friends, including Mr. and Mrs. Carley, Mr. Scot'., the
elocutionist, and wire.
Nortb Carolina lew*.
Natan baa already supplied the greater pottianof bouse.
The public printing has been awarded to
Mr. Turner, of the Sentinel.
The Fayetteville Eagle learns that Mr. H.
K. Hal), of Harnett, killed a grade Chester
hog weighing 686 pounds.
he Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows in this
Stale will meet in* Greensboro in February.
The Asheville Expositor says: The bog
cholera is raging fearfully along the French
Broad—the infection caught from the drovts
passing from.TeDnessee and Kentucky. Capt.
Alexander, Gen. Vance and others, have lost
most all their hogs*.
Winston Sentinel: Elisha Peacock was ar
rested in YadkinvUls on last Saturday week
by tbe Sheriff of Ashe county for killing a
man whose name we are unable to learn.
The difficulty occurred abont a young woman
when Peacock stabbed hh rival, who died in
a few minutes. Peacock is about 18 years
old, and lives in Yadkin county.
The Danbury Reporter thus reports an ex
traoidinary fox hunt in hia section: an old
red fox near Sandy Ridge, in Stokes county,
has been ‘too many 5 for tbe hounds in that
section for a long time, and had distanced
his pursuers in sixteen square races, and the
sportsmen had come to the conclusion that
he could not be caught Last week Carlos
and Coleman Ziglar, of this county, brought
their pack over, and after a race of six hoars,
through two States and four counties, they
•trnng him, and now his hide gracefully or
naments the gable end of Cole. ZigUr’s
A Cwnstltuilonwl Convention.
There is mnch more in the Question,
whether we shall have a convention, much
more which concerns the public weal, than
appears npon the surface.
There is no one central idea on which the
advocates of a convention agree as making
necessary the call, nor are there any consid
erable number of deftets in the present in
strument which any general sentiment of the
people unite in seeking to remedy by the
movement.
One wants the Constitution amended so as
to restore imprisonment for debt
Another wants to abolish or reduce the
homestead.
Another wants to make usury penal.
Another wants to restore the oid system of
’appeals.
Another wants to restrain the State, Coun
ties and cities from issuing bonds.
Another wants to move the Capital.
Others and the more noisy, whether the more
numerous or not, want to depose all the pres
ent officers from Governor down to Justice
and Notary, and give the “outs” a chance, or
at any rate pnl in men whom they can con
trol.
Most thinking men agree that the present
homestead is too large. It ought not to be
abolished, but should be reduced. As to re
straining municipalities from creating bonded
debts, the present Constitution contains a
very conservative provision on that subject,
unknown to any previous constitution of
Georgia, and, it i9 said, better than is in the
Constitution of any other State in the
Union. But conceding that this could be im
proved and that there are other provisions
and alterations which ought to be made, why
not do it by the cheap and easy process of a
vote cf two-thirds of two successive Legis
latures and a ratification by vote of the peo
ple? Several needed reforms have
been proposed at different sessions
lately. Bat they foiled to get the necessary
two-thirds. Why? It is said that tbe ad
vocates of a convention do not want these
really needed reforms adopted by legislative
action, because so soon as accomplished the
special advocates of those measures, have
removed from their minds a motive to vote
for a convention. The reader wonld proba
bly be astonished in examining the journals
to see how some members voted on these
questions, and it would be hard to account
for the votes of many intelligent, far-seeing
members on any other hypothesis. If this
be true, then the convention Is not really de
sired for the purpose of makiog reforms.
But the really needed reforms are to be ma
nipulated for the purpose of getting
the convention, and when obtained the
more local and personal objects above
alluded to are to be brought into promi
nence. We shall watch the coming session
in this respect with much interest and sin
cerely hope to see no more of this nncandid
spirit displayed. If so the people shall know
the men who do it.
We boldly affirm that there is not a soli
tary amendment really needed that would
be sanctioned under the expensive and haz
zardous process of a convention which can
not equally as well be reached by Legislative
action, short and simple in form, accomplish
ing tbe object in the same time as tbe other
and with no expense or danger at all. Nay
more, there ere very many gentlemen in
either house who can frame all the needed
amendments into perhaps twenty lines of
printed matter and consolidate all in one
bill. Is not this the better plan ?
If the convention is called, it will cost by
reasonable estimate in cash, out of the Slate
Treasuiy, probably $250,000. What with
the taxes and the panic, being hard enough
on the people already. Count the lost time
to the masses—a consideration which no
wise political economist and legislator ought
to overlook—there are in round numbers
200,000 voters in the State. It is. safe to
say that in the canvass for members of th^
convention and then after the constitution
is made, in the canvass upon its submission
to the people, each voter will lose from
labor two days on an average, for each elec
tion. Average thi3 at fifty cents per day
each, and you have a clear loss to the body
politic of $400,000.
But suppose we incur this expense, can or
will the Constitution be ratified?
Are we to suppose that the thous
and or more gentlemen in tbe State,
from the highest office down, have
no friends ? Are we to suppose the
friends of the homestead, the enemies of im
prisonment for debt, the whole army of
“relief” men who weie so formidable in
the days of reconstruction; will remain
idle? Then the large body of men who
think matters are very well as they are—
that Georgia has peace in all her borders—
more prosperity and less crime than other
States, an able and impartial judiciary, a
better jury system than she ever had, a firm,
bold and honest executive, and in the matter
of national politics and carpet-bag rule is
far better off than any reconstructed State.
Her representatives are takiug the lead at
Washington, and she is beginning to wield
again her old power in the Union. Men are
apt to say, Why put all this at hazard ? Why
not let well enough alone ? Lock at North
Carolina. How infinitely better off she
would be if she had never been
deluded into this same snare. When
she began it; her government was as
Georgia is now, fully in the hands of her
own people. She went to all this expense
and made just the failure we apeak of. Who
can eay whether that State h not lost to the
Democracy,and how long before the poison
infused into tbe public mind by the white
population dividing into two factions, be
coming embittered against each other, and
then the whole negro population coming up
in a body and deciding the contest in favor
of one faction against the other, will cease to
show its baneful effect? As it is, practically,
there it no Radical party in Georgia. This
convention movement wonld revive it, and
make it again ft power and a dangerous pow-
For these among a host of reasons
we hope to see the Legiilature speak em
phatically against a convention at the pre
sent time.
Tbe Press Speaking Ont.
At the very outset we predicted that the
press and the people would finally declare
against the folly of imposing upon them
selves heavier burdens npon the unnecessary
holding of a convention. And they are doing
it The fact is, that the entire agitation on
the subject has been confined to two or three
newspapers, that kept np such a persistent
damor as to force attention. It is indisput
ably true that the people have shown no in
terest in the matter, because,notwithstanding
incessant calls for meetings, there has been
but two in the entire State, and the only
grand jury that has spoken appealed earnestly
against the holding of a Convention. Thia
being true, a very weak artifice has been
adopted of charging the opposition “to tho
Atlanta press.” This, too, in the very face
of the fact that The Coobtitution has been
publishing opposing arguments from the
press in all portions of the 8tate. In ad
dition we call attention to the following
powerful array of journals and argument
The Columbus Sun declares that it is still
nnconvinced that now is tbe time to hold a
Convention, and the Savannah Advertiser-
Republican thus emphatically speaks. We
call special attention to the closing para
graphs:
One thing may be considered assured,
and that is, the people of Georgta, in their
present temper and circumstances, will not
and ought not to submit to additional taxa
tion for any purpose save for the upholding
of the public honor. It is not likely that the
State or aDy of the municipal corporations
within her limits are going to add to the pub
lic burdens in times like these. Indeed it
may be said that the State has no credit to
pledge in behalf of railroad and other en
terprises.
It is about all that she can do to meet ex
penses and at the same time maintain her
credit. Would it be wise, then, to add to
the present embarrassment, and call for a
convention ?
Would it be well just now, in the midst of
a financial panic, wnen property of all kinds
is depreciated, and the public confidence ia
unsettled, to hold a constitutional conven
tion ? In view of the changed condition of
the people, some new experiments are be
ing made in th9 public polity. Would it
not be well to give these the test of time?
If the Supreme Court is to be torn down;
if usury is to be engrafted upon a bill of
rights; £if imprisonment for debt is to be re
established; if the present form and system
of State government is to be put at the mer
cy of a convention of uncertain composition,
then the people should have the fullest op
portunity of deliberation before the grant of
power. The Legislature should be dead to
passion and prejudice in the settlement of
this issue.—Savannah Advertiser.
The Thomaston Herald treats the subject
in a very brief but pointed manner. The
editor has evidently been a close observer of
the discussion, as evinced by the concluding
sentence:
The question of a State Convention for
sundry purposes, seems to be demanded by
some journals of the State. There i3 no more
use for a Convention than there is for anoth
er panic. The capital question and the
homestead law, are the measures on which a
Convention is demanded. The clamor comes
principally from the Eastern portion of the
State, ana we do not believe anything like a
majority desire the agitation, theexpenseand
the probable little, if any advantage, that will
accrue from a Convention.
Says the Catoosa Courier:
We cannot comprehend why all this hue
and cry is raised for a Convention, unless
tbe agitators of the question vainly h pe to
move the Capital and thereby work an in
jury to the city of Atlanta and to North
Georgia. The burden of the whole song
seems to be, “back to Milledgeville.” Now,
while we have great respect ior the old town
and its good, clever citizens, if it were a fixed
fact, and foregone conclusion, that the Capi
tol had to be moved from Atlanta, we would
not, the people of Georgia would not vote to
move it to Milledgeville, but in all probabili
ty, Macon would be selected. The proposed
Convention, if held, and the removal of the
Capitol wonld involve an expenditure of pos
sibly a half million dollars.
Again, while nobody claims that the pres
ent constitution is perfect, the State at large
seems to be prosperous under its wing, and
it is a mighty good rule, “to let well enough
alone.”
The masses understand tin's and we are not
much alarmed bythe convention bugaboo.
Catoosa Courier.
Says the Brunswick Appeal:
Mr. Reed wants men imprisoned for debt
and most every advccaie lor a State Conven
tion wants something worse than any thing
in the present constitution as objectionable
as it may be. The people wilt let well
enough alone for awhile—none of these men
shew that the people ere suffering at present
from defects in the constitution.
We shall continue to show that the press
aro getting aroused and the people also.
General Young and the Waahlngtom
Bing*
Washington, 19th December, 1878.
Editors Constitution, Atlanta, Oa. —Yon
copied an article from tbe Courier-Journal,
in'which its Washington correspondent, L.
Q. W., speaks of General P. M. B. Young as
“one of the friends of the Washington ring.”
I was one of the counsel of the Citizens’
Association in the investigation before the
committee of Congress. Having more leisure
than tbe other counsel, and being personally
interested as a large property-holder in Wash
ington, I gave the matter more attention
than my associates. Gen. Young being from
my own district, I specially noticed his
course. So far from being able to discover
any special friendship for what was called the
“Washington ring,” the record shows that
he invariably voted against them and with
Roosvelt, of New York, and Crebs, pf Illi
nois, the most prominent opponents of the
ring.
I know L. Q. W. and have a high regard
for him. He is incapable of doing inten
tional injustice, In this case, so far as Gen
eral Young is concerned, he has been mis
informed. If he does not take an early oc
casion to correct his mistake and do justice to
General Young, he is not the man I have
taken him to be.
Yors truly.
Ben. E Green,
of Whitfield county, Georgia.
Washington, D. C., Dec. 18,1878.
Editors Constitution: Sir—My attention hse
been called to a letter from Washington,
copied into your paper with editorial com
ment, calling on me to answer a charge that
I am one of the “ Washington Ring.” At
the proper time I will refer my constituents
to my votes which are of record. I was at
first disposed to denounce the originator of
Ifria charge against me. Bnt friends of expe
rience urge me to wait and give him an op
portunity to correct his own mistake.
Respectfully,
P. M. B. Young,
Rep. 7th Cong. Disc of Ga.