Newspaper Page Text
The Gainesville Eagle
Published Every Friday Morning
O F 1 jn x o E
Upstairs in Candler Hall Building,
Northwest Corner of Public Square.
The Official Organ or Hall, Banks, White, Towns,
naoun, union and Dawson counties, and the city
or Qalnesrille. Has a large general circulation in
twelve Hher counties in Northeast Georgia, and
two coU-ues in Western North Carolina. •
SUBSCRIPTION.
Chr* Ykab $2,00.
Six Months SI,OO.
Thbb* Months s<r c .
t# ASH AKC*. IWUVIIIS BY CAIUIIKR OH PREPAID
bt Ham.
AH papers are stopped at the expiration of the
time paid for without further notice. Mail sub
scribers will please observe the dates on their
wrappers.
Persons wishing the paper will have their orders
dromptly attended to by remmitting the amount
for the time desired.
ADVERTISING.
SEVKK WORDS MAKE A LIKE.
Ordinary advertisements, per Nonpareil line, 10
cents. Legal Official Auction and Amusement
advertise inents and Special Notices, per. Nonpa
reil line. 15 cents.
Reading notlees per line, Nonpareil type 16 cents
Leeal notices, per line, Brevier type, 16 cents.
A discount made on advertisements continued
for longer than one week.
REMITTANCES
For inbscriptions or advertising can be made by
Post Office order, Registered Letter or Express,
at our risk. All letters should be addressd,
J. E. REDWINE,
Gainesville, Ga.
GENERAL DIRECTORY.
JUDICIARY.
Hon. George D. Rice, Judge S. 0. Western Circuit.
A, L. Mitchell, Solicitor, Athens, Ga.
COUNTY OFEIOERB.
3. B. M. Wlnbnrn, Ordinary; John L. Gaines,
■herlff; J. F. Duckett, Deputy Sheriff; J. J. Mayne,
Olerk Saperior Court; W. 8. Pickrell, Deputy Cier.
Superior Court ; N. B. Clark, Tax Collector ; -J B.
H. Luck, Tax Reoeiver; Gideon Harrison, Sur
veyor ; Edward Lowry, Coroner ; R. C. Young,
Treasurer.
CITY GOVERNMENT.
Dr. H. S. Bradley, Mayor.
Aldermen—Dr. H. J. Long, W. B. Clements, T.
A. Panel, W. H. Henderson,W. G. Henderson,
T. M. Merck.
A. B. O. Dorsey, Clerk; J. R. Boone, Trreasurer; T.
N.Uanie, Marshal; Henry Perry, City Attorney.
CHURCH DIRECTORY.
Phbsbttkbian Church— Rev. T. P. Cleveland,
Pastor. Preaching every Sabbath—morning and
■lght, except the second Sabbath. 8u day Sohooi,
at fa. m. Prayer meeting Wednesday evening at 4
o’clock. *
Methodist Church—Rev. W. W. Wadsworth, Pas
tor. Preaching every Sunday morning and night.
Sunday School at!) a. m. Prayer meeting Wednes
day night.
Baptist Church Rev. W. C. Wilkes, Pastor.
Preaohing Sunday morning and night. Sunday-
School at 9a. m Prayer meeting Thursday evening
at 4 o’clock.
GAINESVILLE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.
B. Kates, President; Win. W. Habersham, Libra
rian.
YOUNG MEN’S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.
A. M. Jackson, President; B. 0. Maddox, Vico
President; W. B. Clements, Secretary.
Regular services every Sabbath evening at one
of the Churches. Cottago prayer meeting* every
Tuesday night in “Old Town,’’and Friday .night
near the depot
FRATERNAL RECORD.
Flowery Branch Lodqk No. 79, I. O. O. TANARUS.,
meets svery Monday night, Joel Laheter, N. G.
*. F. Stkdham, Sec.
Allsuhant Royal Arch Chapter meets on the
Seeand and Fourth Tuesday evenings iu each
manth.
8. S. Bradley, Sec’y. A. W. Caldwsll, H. P.
Gainesville Lodge, No. 219, A.-. F.-. M.\.
meets ju the First a nd Third Tuesday evening in
the month
R. Palmodr, Beo’y. It. E. Green, W. M.
Air-Link Lodqi, No. 64 ,1, O. O. JF., meets
every Friday evening.
0. A. Lilly, Sec. W. H. Harrison, N. G.
GAINESVILLE POST OFFICE.
Owing to recent change ofsoheduloou the Atlan
ta and Charlotte Air Line Railroad, the following
will be the schedule from date:
Kail train No. 1, going east, leaves 7:47 p. m.
Mall for this train closes at 7:00 “
Mall train No. 2, going east, 1eave5....8:35 a. m.
No mail by this train.
Mail train No. 1* going west, 1eave5....6:61 a. m.
Mail for this train closes at.... 9:30 p.m.
Mail train Ne. 2, going west, 1e;ve5....9:05 p. in.
Mail for this traia closes at 7.30 “
Office hours from 7 a. m. to 6:30 p. m.
Geaeraldelivery open on Sundays from Bbi to9>f.
Departure of mails from thia office:
Dahlonega and Gilmer county, daily 8t s. in
Dahlonoga, via Wahoo and Ethel, Saturday a. in
Jeffersoa k Jackson county, Tuesday, Thurs
day and Saturday.. 7 a. m
(HevslanA, White, Union, Towns and Hayes
villo, N. C., Tuesdays and Fridays 7 a. m
Dawsonvillo and Dawson county,, Tuesday
and Saturday 8 a. m.
Bomer, Banks county, Saturday 1 p. m
Pleasant Grove, Forsyth county, Saturday..l p.m
M. R. ARCHER, P.M.
Atlanta and Charlotte
AIK-I,IN K,
Trains will run as follows on and after
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29,1878,
MAIL TRAIN, DAILY.
GOING EAST.
Irttare Atlanta 2:40 p. rn-
Leave Gainesville 4:56 p. m.
Arrive Charlotte 2:20 a. m.
GOING WEST.
lieave Charlotte 1:18 a. m.
Leave Gainesville 9:55 a. m.
Arrive Atlanta 12:00 m.
Through Freight Train.
(Daily except Sunday.)
GOING EAST.
Leave Atlanta 8:37 a. m.
Arrive Gainesville 12:28 p. ns
Leave Gainesville 1:10 p. in'
Arrive Central ... 7:12 p. in
GOING WEST.
Leave Central 2:55 a.
Arrive Gainesville 8:25 a. m.
Leave Gainesville 8:37 a. ra.
Arrive Atlanta 12:25 p. m.
Looal Freight and Accommodation
Train.
(Daily except Sunday.)
GOING BAST.
Leave Atlanta 5:45 a. in.
Arrive Gainesville 10:54 a. m.
Leave Gainesville 11:23 a. m.
Arrive Central 6:35 p. m.
WEST.
Leave Central..*. - ,4:45 a. m.
Arrive Gaineßviller. * 1:10 p. m.
Leave Gainesville “ 1:40 p. in.
Arrive Atlanta... 6:45 p. m.
Close connection at Atlanta for all points
Yfeet, and at Charlotte for all points East.
G. J. Fobeaore, General Manager
W. J. Houston, Gen. P. <fc T. A’gt.
Northeastern Railroad of Georgia.
TIME TABLE.
Taking effect Monday, June 10, 1878. All
trains run daily except Sunday.
TRAIN NO. 1.
STATIONS. ARRIVE. LEAV^k
A. M.
Athens 7 00
Cst*r 721 722
Nicholson 736 739
Harmony Grove, 759 807
Mavsville 827 832
Glllsville 849 850
Lula 9 15
TRAIN INO.
———- ■ ■ ■ t V-
STATIONS. ARRIVE. LEAVE.
P. M.
Lula 5 25
Gillsville 542 545
Maysville 602 608
Harmony Grove .. 630 640
Nieholsoa 701 707
Center 722 725
Athens 7 45
WOOL! WOOL!
The Wool Carder at Brown’s Mill having
been thoroughly repaired, is now doing
well. All wool left at K. L Boone’s store
will be taken away the samo week, and re
turned carded the next week. Satisfaction
guaranteed. O. CLAKK.
acpia-t.
The Gainesville Eagle.
VOL. XII.
Ellen and Louis Riege.
Ellen Murphy’s history, so myste
riouely hidden since August from
every one of her intima.e friends who
supposed that her body was that
found iu the barrel near Silver Lake,
Staten Island, in September, had its
latest and to her most eventful chap
ter acted yesterday. In yesterday's
Sun it was briefly related how Ellen
left her trunk at Mrs. Condren’s in
Tompkinsville, and went to look for
her lover, Louis Riege, in Somer
ville, N. J., how she did not find him
and how she then disappeared. She
had hinted that she was going to
Europe if Louis Riege would not
provide for her and protect her when
she was about to become the mother
of his child. The avenues of travel
to Europe were visited by reporters,
but nothing could be learned of El
len’s departure by any water ronte
from the city. It had been tacitly
agreed that the fate of Ellen Murphy
was to be only one of the hundreds
of similar ones. A poor girl had
again been weary of life, and sought
self-destruction. Riege had been as
anxious as any one to know of her
whereabouts. After his discharge
from arrest he resumed work in
Freeman’s brewery in Clifton, where,
eighteen months ago, he first met
Ellen. As he had been in danger of
indictment for the murder of Ellen,
while the body in the barrel was
thought to bo hers, and as the news
papers had heralded his testimony
before the Coroner’s jury, and yet
Ellen had not appeared to set him
free, ho feared that she was no longer
living. On Thursday last Louis was
told at the brewery that a woman
wanted to see him. In a momentho
stood before Ellen Murphy. With a
cry of joy he took her in his arms.
Her face was pale. Together the
couple returned to Ellen’s hired
apartments in this city, where the
father was presented with a healthy
girl baby just two weeks old, Its
blue eyes and its nose are the repro
duction of Ellen’s, while the lower
face is an image of Louis. A Sun
reporter, calling on the young couple
last evening, found them on the point
of starting out to be married. A
friendly German woman in the house
had the baby iu charge, and was to
stay at home and care for it until El
len aod Louis should return.
The bride elect wore a drab dress
trimmed with navy blue, and a blue
ribbon was at her throat. She took
from a nail a white hat, jauntily
cocked up on one side, and tastefully
trimmed with light blue silk. “Be
careful of the baby,” was her parting
request. Louis, who wore a business
suit, pioked up his soft felt hat, and,
before putting it on, bent over the
baby and kissed its forehead tender
ly. The reporter was an invited
guest, and on the way to the minis
ter’s, Eden told, while riding in a
street car, some of her history. She
refused, however, to reveal where
she went after giving up Louis, in
August. It was not to any rooms
in this city, as has been said, but to
a couutry town 100 miles from New
York, iu a private family, where she
went under an assumed name. In
her skirt lining she had sewed un all
her savings, amounting to SIOO in
cash, and on that the relied to pay
her expenses. A physician and a
careful nurse attended her.
The finding of the unknown body
was known to her, and the subse
quent dispute whether it was ner
own or not, but she would not reveal
her whereabouts. When Louis was
arrested, she t-agi rly read the news
papers to tee W! other he was to be
imprisoned lor tier murder. If so,
then she had determined to return
home and have him released. But if
he was only for a time in trouble she
would left him endure it. She
thought that he ought to have some
punishment for hie neglect of her in
Clifton. Ellen added that they had
decided, in many conversations last
summer, that they would immediate
ly marry, but the dread of exposure,
and, more than all, of facing their
friends, who objected to the union,
either on account of differences in
religious belief or m nationality,
kept them unsettled in their pur
pose- ..
Ellen’s sJdjw was told in intervals
of conversation "with Louis, and her
words cs well auanaer toward
him showed that she was glad to
have found a protector." There was
even a sparkle in her eyes, a faint
color in her pale cheeks, and a re
newed vigor in her motions. When
the wedding party alighted from the
street car Louis led the way to the
De Witt City Mission Chapel, in.
Greenwich street, near Cedar, a tiny
Gothic edifice, where Sunday services
are held. It is unsectariau. The
Rev. George Halt, a Baptist minister,
is in charge, however, and he greeted
the wedding guests.
There was a brief prayer, invoking
the Christ who was at the marriage
in Cana of Galilee to witness and
bless the nuptials, and a briefer ad
dress in which the little company
was reminded that it is not good for
man to live alone and that therefore
(med made woman to be a helpmeet
for him, when the minister joined the
hands of the coup'e and pro
nounced them man and wife. Louis
meanwhile looked at the minister,
and Ellen kept her eye3 fixed on the
floor. Asa prayer was offered that
the marriage might be recognized in
heaven, Louis’s eyes lilied with tears
that rolled down his face. Then
Louis tucked something into, the
minister’s hand. The minister held
the outer door open and shook hands
with each member of the party as it
walked into the street. Up Broad
way it went, and in passing the flow
er stand in front of St Paul’s Chuich,
the reporter bought a bouquet of ro
ses and violets and gave it to the
bride. It was their only present.
The newly-married couple returned
to their comfortable room. Louis
says that they are to return to Staten
Island to live, some time in this week.
—New York Sun.
Columbus is exercised over a dou
ble marriage. This kind of business
is going on to an alarming extent in
that city.
GAINESVILLE, GA., FRIDAY . MORNING, NOVEMBER 15, 1878.
Governor’s Message,
Executive Department.
Atlanta, Ga., November 5, 1878.
To the General Assembly :
The circumstances attending the
present assembling of your body are
so impressive and marked in their
character as, in my jadgment, to de
mand precedence over all other ques
tions which I shall present in this
message, referring merely to our ma
terial condition and necessities.
The present year has been one of
such afflictive experience in many
sections of our land as to appal the
heart and attract the sympathy of
the civilized world. The resistless
pestilence, baffling the utmost that
man could do, and leaving behind it
the habiliments of woe in thousands
of households, has not touched one
spot in all our borders. While our
part has been that of the sympathiz
ing friend and brother, we have been
so blessed in our exemption from the
awful visitation which we deplored
for others, that we should be filled
with grateful and humble acknowl
edgements. We have been spared
from the desolating storms and inun
dations which have swept over other
sections. Not one case of popular
commotion has excited or alarmed
us. The State has been blessed gen
erally with such crops as leave no
cause for complaint. Our merchants
and manufacturers have passed
through the year with such rewards
as should satisfy the moderate.
In review of all interests, and the
fortune of every section of our State,
we have very much to cheer and en
courage us.
The depression which for years
preceding this has so weighed us
down is gradually giving way to the
hopeful promise which rises up be
fore U3 of a better and y comipg.
Does it not become us to make for
mal, as well as heartfelt acknowledg
ments for such a catalogue of signal
benefits ?
THE state finances.
The cash balance in the Treasury>
January 1, 1877, was $564,283.33-
The amount received from all sources
into the Treasury during the year
1877 was $1,998,346.84, the details
of which will appear, by reference
to the reports of the Treasurer and
Comptroller General, herewith sub
mitted.
The disbursements daring the
year 1877 were $1,728,910 80, leaving
a cash balance in the Treasury of
$833,719 37. The objects of these
disbursements are stated iu the ac
companying reports.
The public debt of the State on the
Ist of January, 1878, was $10,644,-
500, the annual interest on the same
being $719,135. Of the public debt
$200,000 principal became payable,
and was paid in 1878, and SIOO,OOO
was paid in 1877. In the ytar 1879
there will mature s3oo } ooo of the
public debt, for which provision must
be made, as well as for the annual
interest accruing of $708,135; the
whole amount to be paid on the pub
lic debt, principal and interest, next
year being $1,008,135.
In conseqsence of the receipt of a
considerable sum of money from un
expected sources, viz: $152,678.94
from the United States government
on claim of the Western and Atlan
tic Railroad, and $25,000 income
from the Macon and Brunswick Rail
road, the temporary loan of the year
1876 of $350,000 was reduced to
$200,000 in the year 1877.
As the fiscal year begins the Ist
of January and ends the 31st of De
cember, the full financial reports of
the year 1878 are not ready, the
present fiscal year not having ex
pired. The Comptroller General
recommends that the fiscal year be
changed from the present time and
made to run from October first to
October first, each year. I favor this
recommendation, as under the new
Constitution the general assembly
meets biennially on the first Wednes
day in November, and the change is
necessary in order . for the general
assembly to have before it the re
ports of the year before its session.
The treasurer, however, has made
a supplemental report to the report
of 1877, giving the financial opera
tions of the nine months of the year
1878, to the Ist of October, which is
herewith submitted. From this re
port it appears that the—
Cash balance in the treasury
January 1878 $ 833,719 37
Receipts during the nine
months were $ 612,080 35
And the disbursements 1,150,010 04
Leaving a balance in the treas
my ea the Ist of Ootober of $ 295,789 68
It i-? well to state the gratifying
fact as evincing the improved finan
cial condition of the State, that for
the first time in a number of years it
has been unnecessary to make a tem
porary loan to meet the heavy sum
mer payments upon the public debt
that fall due before taxes begin to
come in. In 1877, though the gen
eral assembly provided for a loan of
$500,000, it was only necossary to
borrow $200,000, while in 1878 no
loan was made. As, however, the
expense of the legislature is to be
paid out of the incoming taxed, and
as $300,000 will have to be paid on
the principal or the public debt in
1879, a temporary loan will probably
be necessary.
I shall be pardoned for a brief al
lusion to the general financial condi
tion of oar State. The, facts of that
condition show that no State in the
Union is more solvent, or should
have a stronger financial reputation
than Georgia. Our public debt is
but one twenty-third of our taxable
property. The State has nearly am
ple assets in its two valuable rail
roads and other property, if sold, to
pay off the debt. There is a consti
tutional prohibition against any
further increase of our State indebt-]
edness, while the annual income pays
the expenses, and, in addition, liqui
dates yearly from two to three hun
dred thousand dollars of the public
debt. This is a gratifying exhibit to
ail of her citizens, and especially to 1
the holders of Georgia securities,
who have the assurance, that as the
facts of the abundant, financial re
sources of the State, ajid its growing
prosperity, become known, their
bonds will rise above even theiij
present high value in the commercial
world.
wild LANDS.
In this financial connection, it is
proper to call your attention to the
fact that the present wild land law
needs some amendment. The Comp
troller General recommends that the
present law, approved February 28,
1874, be amended so as to allow the
Comptroller to make up a list of all
unreturued wild lands and improved
land?, and upon these issue fi fas;
and also, that section 891 of the
Code, requiring a transfer of wild
land fi fas, be amended so as to allow
the State control of such fi fas. Un
der the present law, by which the
Comptroller issues fi fas, on list® of
unreturned wild lands sent up by
receivers, and the State is obliged to
transfer tke fi fas to parties applying,
many errors are committed, and in
justice done. The object to be
served is such a moulding of the
laws as will force the owners of wild
lands to pay their legitimate share
of the burdens of taxation, acd at
the same time avoid mistakes that
work forfeiture of property upon in
dividuals, or else put them to trouble
and expense to correct such mistakes.
The matter is an important one, and
I commend it to the general assem
bly as urgently needing careful at
tention.
a collected claim
During the year 1877 a very timely
payment into the State treasury was
received from an unexpected source.
At the close of the war the United
States government was in the pos
session of the Western and Atlantic
Railroad, and when the road was
turned over to the State, the Federal
government sold the rolling atook to
the Stace of Georgia for a certain
amount of money, which our State
paid, thus closing the transaction.
Col. Baugh was Superintendent of
the road at the time. Fours years
after, in 1869, Col. Baugh proposed
to Gov. Bullock to enter into an
agreement to induce the United
States government to re-open the
claim and refund to the State money
alleged to have been in excess of the
real value of the rolling stock Bold
and paid for. For eight years this
claim was pressed, and success
seemed impossible. The Quarter
master General of the United States
made a long and decided report
against the claim. No less than ten
attorneys were connected with the
claim from first to last, and used en
ergy and expended time and money
upon what seemed to be a hopeless
enterprise. Early in 1877 the claim,
however, was passed, and the sum of
$196,038.56 was paid by the United
States government.
The original agreement as to com
pensation between Col. Baugh and
his partner, Gen. A. C. Garlington,
and Gov. Bullock, was that the State
wan to pay a retainer of $3,000 to
Baugh and Garlington, and a condi
tional fee of 12J- per cent, of the
amount recovered. Other attorneys
were afterwards employed and the
conditional fee was enlarged to a per
cent., not to exceed 25 per cent, of
the amount recovered. The attor
neys interested were Col. Robert
Baugh, Gen. A. C. Garlington, and
Col. R. A Alston, of Atlanta, Ga.,
the law firm of Jackson, Lawton &
Basinger, of Savannah, Ga., Col. J.
C. Fain, of Gordon county, Ga., and
W. A. Prescott, Esq., and C. D. Wil
lard, Esq., of Washington, D. C.
The 25 per cent, agreed upon was
allowed the attorneys, the retainer
of $3,000 beiDg first deducted, and
the balance $152,278.94 was paid in
to the treasury of the State. The
only question to be considered in the
allowance of fee to the attorneys for
collecting the claim was whether the
contract for a conditional fee to be
enlarged from 12£ per cent, to a sum
not to exceed 25 per cent, of the
amount recovered was to be con
strued as giving them 25 per cent,
or less. The evidence upon this
point was, in my judgment, full
and conclusive that in case of re
covery the full amount of 25 percent,
was to be retained as the contingent
fee.
THE STATE UNIVERSITY.
The condition of the State Univer
sity, <T the College of Agriculture and
the Mechanic Arts, and of the North
Georgia Agricultural College, is
shown in the accotnpHnying reports.
The receipts for 1876 7 were $41,-
529 54, which, with the balance on
hand July 1, 1876, made the revenue
for the year $46,518 80. The dis
bursements |were $34,886 44, leaving
the balance on hand, Jniy, 1877,
$11,895 19, which, with scrip fund
and tuition due, would run the bal
ance to $15,000 00. The amount of
$15,000 voted by the general assem
bly te supplement the experimental
and mechanical departments of the
University has been received and ju
diciously used, as far as expended.
Fur the year 1877-8, the leceipts,
not including the balance from the
previous year, were $33,862.61, and
the disbursements, including pur
chase of apparatus, were S3B 206 98,
leaving a casn balance of $9,688 78
belonging to the Library, Apparatus,
Laud Scrip and general funds. The
report gives the details of receipts
and expfttlitures, and says that leav
ing out the expenditures for appa
ratus the total disbursements were
$67.22 in excess of the total receipts,
and including refunde „ tuition,
$990 70 less than the appropriation
made in August, 1877.
The decline in the number of stu
dents,and in consequent income from
tuition, caused the board of trustees
to examine closely into the cause of
such decline. There is no reason
why this venerable and illustrious
institution should fall into decadence,
but, on the contrary, every good
ground for its increasing in useful
ness and prosperity. Ths Universi
ty ha3 an able and full faculty, it is
provided with $22,500 worth of ap
paratus for the instruction of science,
* it presents facilities for the education
of our youth surpassed by no college
in the country. In the increased
number of pupils in attendance, theie
is an indication of a more prosperous
condition.
The plan of utilizing the* public
Biddings at Milledgeville by estab-
BihiDg in them a branch agricultural
dfilege, like the one at Dahlonega,
i.'jone that presents strong merits,
tAid is respectfully brought to the
consideration of the general assem
bly. To show the value of the Dah
lfeega college, it may bo stated that
t|is report of the president,submitted
Jhns 10, 1878, and approved by the
beard, for the scholastic year, shows
three hundred pupils received
iu the various depart
najents of the institution, at a total
expense of the smaU snm of $4,440.
IMike favorable results can be reach
ed by the establishment of a similar
institution in the unoccupied public
buildings at Milledgeville, it would
bd both a wise policy for the State,
afid a grateful favor to the citizens of
the old capital.
THE LUNATIC ASYLUM.
Th 9 report of the trustees of the
Linatic Asylum for the year 1877 is
very satisfactory. The appropriation
wis $108,550., The balance at the
banning of the year was $1,965.06.
Tke expenses for the year were $Bl,-
2j3, leaving $26,000 of the amount
appropriated undrawn from the treas
ury. The cost per "capita of main
taining the institution was 36 63-100
a day, against 37£ cents the year
before. The number of patients was
663 at the close of the year, against
605 the year before,being an increase
of 68 in number. Accommodations
were added during the year for
about 136 additional patients, the
capacity of the institution being in
creased to about 800 patients.
’The death of Dr. James F. Boze
man, for five years president of the
beard of trustees, daring the year
1877, was a loss to the institution of
a manager distinguished alike by a
thorough conception of the needs of
thsfe Asylum, superior executive man
agement, and a Christian public
spirit.
Berthe ten months beginning De
cember 1, 1877, and extending to
September 30, 1878, the trustees re
port the expenses $73,291.41, for an
awr&go of 725 patients, Ou the Ist
of October, 1878, the number of pa
tients was 743, The expense per
capita was 34 55-100 during the ten
months. It will thus be seen that
th management of tho institution
hop been decidedly economical and
efljjiient.
l)f the amount appropriated by the
general assembly for the 22 months
from December 1, 1876, to October 1,
1878, $40,620 hag not been used, and
remains in the treasury. This large
saviug is due to the rigid economy of
the board. The trastees ask permis
sion to use $25,000 of this amount to
enlarge the buildings for the oolored
patients, and to finish a number of
rooms in the main buildings that may
be made available,and other improve
majD.r. The necessity of an enlarge
rnfent di tnfi negro b addings is repre
sented to be pressing. The trustees,
after consultation with the Executive
and Attorney General, did not deem
it proper to use the unexpended
money appropriated for the mainte
nance of the asylum for the construc
tion of buildings, but preferred to
ask the general assembly for author
ity to so apply a portion of the un
drawn appropriation.
The suggestion of the trustees iu
this matter is in the spirit of human
ity. The number of thia unfortunate
class of colored people is increasing
yearly, and the proper and humane
care of them demands enlarged ac
commodations.
ACADEMY FOR THE BLIND.
The twenty-sixth annual report of
the trustees of the Georgia Academy
for the Blind, at Macon, for the year
1877, is herewith submitted. It
shows the attendance of 63 pupils.
The receipts for maintenance were
$12,732.07, including balance of $33
from the year 1876, and the expend
itures were $12,538.14. In addition,
$1,174.62 was expended for building
a cistern.
THE DEAF AND DUMB ASYLUM.
The Institution for the Deaf and
and Dumb, at Cave Spring, is in ex
cellent condition. The report of the
trustees covers the operations from
July 1, 1877, to June 30, 1878. The
pupils numbered 73, the largest num
ber at one time being 71, and the
average 65, or 25 more than the pre
vious year. Of these 37 were males,
and 36 females. The asylum appears
to have been managed economically.
The trustees urge that the legisla
ture make provision for completing
the department for colored deaf
mutes, and for increasing the accom
modations for white mutes. The
quarters are alleged to be inconveni
ent for the number of pupils now in
the institution. There are said to be
fully 300 deaf mutes in the State
needing the benefits of this institu
tion. The trustees ask an increased
appropriation for the maintenance of
pupils.
THE COMMON SCHOOLS.
The report of the State School
Commissioner shows an encouraging
condition of the public schools in the
State. In 1877, the attendance was
190,626; in 1876, 179,405; in 1875,
156,394; and in 1873, 83,677. These
figures show the steady growth of the
common school system. In 1877 the
attendance of white children was
126,962, and of colored children 61,-
664. The statistics for 1878 are not
yet obtainable, as some of the schools
are still in operation, and reports are
not made until the close of the term.
The State school fund, including
the poll tax, iB about $300,000. The
counties and cities raised by local
taxation, under local laws, in 1877,
the sum of $100,153 making the en
tire free school fund for that year
about $400,000. The enumeration of
the school population in 1878 shows
236,319 whites and 197,125 colored;
total 433,444. This is a total increase
over the enumeration of 1874 of 39,-
407; whites, 17,587; colored, 21,821.
While there has been an increase
in the school population, there has
been a decrease in the illiteracy in
the State. In 1874, the number of
persons between ten and eighteen
unable to read was 106,444 of which
the whites were 26,552 and the color
ed 79,092. The returns for 1878
show a total of these illiterates of
85,730;white5,22,323; c010red,23,307;
showing a decrease of 20,614; whites,
4,229; colored, 46,385. This is an
encouraging result of the free school
system.
The report recommends amend
ments of tho school law, looking to
an increased income for the support
of public schools.
Your attention is respectfully
called to the suggestions of the com
missioner.
DEPARTMENT OF A 081 CULTURE.
The fourth annual report of the
Commissioner of Agriculture for the
year 1877, and the fifth annual re
port for 1878, are respectfully sub
mitted. They present fully the work
of this important department, and
show a valuable aggregate result.
The department has proven benefi
cial to the agricultural interests of
the State, and ha3 undoubtedly made
the State reputation abroad for farm
ing progress. The collection of firm
statistics and planting experiments
has educated the farmers in improved
methods of agriculture, in the use of
labor-saving implements, and ia the
general planting of better seeds. The
inspection of fertilizers has saved a
large amount of money to the fanners
in the exclusion of inferior commer
cial manures from our markets. The
railroad statistics of the sums spent
for foreign provisions ha* shown the
dependence upon other States, and
the large amount spent abroad for
farm supplies. This information has
stimulated the production of food
crops to the great benefit of the
State. During the last year, the re
ceipts for the State treasury from
the fees for the inspection of fertili
zers under the new system have not
only paid the expenses of the depart
ment of agriculture, but left a very
considerable balance in the treasury.
The gross amount from inspection in
1878 was $45,235.77; expenses of in
spection, $11,150 30; leaving a net
balance of $34,085.47. Deducting
from this $15,700, the cost of the de
partment of agriculture, there re
mains $19,385.49 in the treasury of
income for the State from this source.
The reports contain a number of val
uable matters that are commended
to the careful consideration of the
general assembly.
THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
The State Geologist has steadily
progressed ia tho work of a survey of
the State, covering the western third
of the State, and nearly all north of
the Chattahoochee river, embracing
tho main portion of the mineral ter
ritory. Maps have been completed
of twenty-seven counties, the marl
beds in fifty-two couuties have been
located, and analyses made of serpa
ty-five marls, showing a great variety
in character as well as abundance in
quantity. The measurements of wa
ter courses have been continued over
nearly the whole State, especial at
tention having been given to the
counties bordering on the Blue
Ridge, on account of the immense
value of those streams in working the
gold mines. There are over four
hundred stamps in operation in the
forty gold mills in the State. A spe
cial collection of minerals, rocks and
woods was sent and exhibited jot the
Paris Exposition.
ATTORNEY GENERALS REPORT.
The Attorney General embraces in
his report the full operations in his
department, from the first of Janua
ry, 1877, to the present time. The
litigation in which the State is inter
ested has been and is large, impor
tant and varied, and comprehends
questions of legal difficulty as well as
of great pecuniary magnitude. The
most important, perhaps, are the
railroad tax cases, which involve over
half a million dollars of money, and
cover grave legal issues. These have
been ably represented in the conrtß
by General Toombs and the Attorney
General. The attention of the gene
ral assembly is directed to the sug
gestions of the Atio?ney General in
connection of these tax cases and
other subjects.
THE PENITENTIARY,
The report of the principal keeper
of the penitentiary is foil in its de
tails.
There are now in the penitentiary
1,239 convcts. Since October, 1866,
the whole number of convicts received
in the penitentiary has been 3,293,
265 were pardoned, 406 died, 656 es
caped, and 828 discharged. In 1877
were received 340, and in 1878 to
October 209 convicts.
The report states that the lessees
are faithfully endeavoring to carry
out their contacts with the State.
The convicts are well treated in every
respect. There has been a gratifying
decrease in the deaths and escapes
for 1878, the records showing one
third less in the number of deaths,
and two-thirds less in the number
of escapes, thu3 evincing more care
ful attention to the comfort and
health of the convicts, and the great
er watchfulness in guarding them.
The principal keeper recommends
some amendments to the law, to
which your attention is directed.
The receipts from the hire of con
victs from January 1, 1877, to De
cember 31, were $14,160 47. The
hire for 1878 will not be due until
December 31,
PARDONS.
In conformity with the new consti
tution, I submit, in an accompanying
document, a list of pardons granted
by me since the new constitution
went into operation,with a statement
of the grounds in each case for the
exercise of executive clemency.
THE MACON & BRUNSWICK RAILROAD.
The important work, now controll
ed by the State, demands some de
cisive action by the legislature. The
direct pecuniary interest involved in
this property is large, and the inci
dental interests resulting from a wise
and energetic management of its
business, seem, to my mind, to prom
ise incalculable benefit to that section
penetrated by this road. It would
be difficult to find a section which
embraces a wider range of produc
tion, or which possesses such possi
bilities of pi\ titable development.
Favorable rates of transportation,
and jsnch general and permanent en
couragement as a great line like the
Macon & Brunswick road coaid give
to industrial enterprise in all the ter
ritory within easy reach of it, would
add largely to the value of such prop
erty, and thousands to our popula
tion. It will be for the legislature
to determine whether these desirable
results can be expected asjreasonably
while the State holds the road aa
property, as could be looked for if
it were under the control of parties
who were interested as private indi
viduals.
Eren under the State’s fortunate
ownership of railroad property, it is
questionable if such ownership, under
all considerations is a wise policy.
To my mind, nothing is clearer than
the wisdom of simplifying and re
stricting the duties and obligations
of government. The great work tn
be accomplished by the State is thr
protection of life and property
Whenever the commonwealth at
tempts to act the part of a property -
holder, entering into competition
with private individual Jenterprises,
we may look for sueh complications,
and increase of expenditure, and en
largement of State patronage, as will
embarrass the success, if it does not
threaten the purity, of administra
tion.
It is a question of large import,
which is before us for solution, how
soon, and on what terms should the
State relinquish to the citizens ail
proprietorship in such property. It
is a question that, to my mind, has
long been settled,? that not a dollar
should be drawn from the pocket of
the tax-payer that could, with a wise
economy, be left there; and that an
interest-bearing debt is no benefit to
any State that owes it, and the soon
era public debt is extinguished, when
there are assets to pay it, the better
it is for the public interest. Feeling
and believing this, I am prepared to
advise a long lease or the sale of the
Macon and Brunswick Railroad, nn
der snoh restrictions as will secure
the State against loss, and protect
the citizen against oppressive rates of
transportation.
The report of the commissioners of
the Maeon and Brunswick Road,
herewith submitted, shows that for
the twenty-two months beginning De
cember 1, 1876, and ending Septem
ber 30, 1878, the total earnings were
$631,911.79, and the total expenses
$554,352.47, leaving as net earnings
for that period the sum of $77,559 32
Of this amount $65,Q00j has been
paid into the Stats Treasury. Of the
expenses $37,036 74 were paid on
matters not chargeable to current ex
penses. This added to the net earn
ings would make the sum of sll4,
594.06 over the actual cost of running
the road. The road is in good con
dition and the limited motive power
in fair order
NORTH AND SOUTH, AND MEMPHIS BRANCH
RAILROADS.
During the administration of Gov
ernor Smith, the North & South, and
the Memphis Branch Railroad Com
panies having failed to pay the in
terest upon their State-endorsed
bonds, said railroads, and all the
property of said companies, were
seized and taken possession of by the
State.
Under the discretion vested in the
Governor by the act granting aid to
said companies, and in pursuance of
an Executive order of date July 26,
1877, the North and South railroad
was sold in the city of Columbus, on
the first Tuesday in September next
thereafter, for the sum of forty ti-ou
•and five hundred dollars. The
puroh&ser at said sale failed to pay
the amount of his bid; and Laving
received an offer from Louis F. Gar
rard, and others of said city, to take
said road and other property for the
sum so bid at said sale, if, time were
allowed for the payment. I deemed
it for the best interest of the State to
aocept the same.
Accordingly a deed has been exe
cuted by tho Governor on behalf of
the State, conveying to the said Louis
F. Garrard, hie associates, all the
property and franchises of said North
and South Railroad Company. In
consideration of said conveyance the
purchasers agree to pay to the State,
on the first day of Jaßuary, 1884, the
said sum of forty thousand five hun
dred dollars; aad also, to pay to the
Treasurer of Georgia, semi-annually,
in advance, interest 6n said sum at
the rate of seven per oent. per annum
until said principal is paid. They
further agree to expend,within twelve
months from the date of said convey
ance, the sum of twenty thousand
dollars npon the extension and equip
ment of said road.
Under the terms of said deed the
State holds a prior lien upon the
property oonveyed, and, also, npon
the property that may be added
thereto, and expressly reserves the
right to seize and resume possession
thereof upon the failure of said pur
chasers to pay the principal, or any
pait of said interest, within thirty
days after the same may become
due.
In accordance with said agreement,
the sum of two thousand eight hun
dred and thirty-five dollars, interest
on the amount of said purchase up to '
January 1, 1879, has been paid into .
the State Treasury.
In pursuance of an Executive order
iasued June 6, 1877, the property of
the Memphis Branch Railroad Com
pany, except its franchise, road-bed,
and the bridge across the Oostanaula
river, was exposed for Rale in the city
of Rome on the first Tuesday iu Au
gust next thereafter, and was bid off
by the Marietta and North Georgia
Railroad Company for the sum of
nine thousand dollars. Said last
named company being unable to pay
the amount Of said bid in cash, I con
sented, in behalf of the State, that
the payment of said sum should be
deferred until the first day of Jan
uary, 1881—the company, in the
meantime, paying interest thereon,
annually, at the rate of seven per
cent, per annum. Said sum of nine
thousand dollars will be retained by
the State from the proceeds of the hire
of convicts for year the 1880, which
proceeds have been annually loaned
to said company by an act of the
general assembly Feb
ruary 24, 1877.
NORTHEASTERN RAILROAD. ‘
In January of the present year I
gave the State’s endorsement upon
the first mortgage bonds of the North
eastern Railroad to the amount of
$260,000, this being $6 500 per mile
for forty miles. By act of the gen
eral assembly, approved October 27,
1870, the State’s guaranty was P‘edg
ed to this road upon the completion
of each continuous tweuty milts to
the amount of $15,000 per miie. The
act of the general assembly, ap
proved February 25, 1874, (repealing
the act granting the right to such
guarantees as this, excepted all cases
where the right had vested. The
same general assembly that passed
this repealing act by express resolu
tion approved, March 3, 1874, de
clared that the said repealing act did
not apply to the Northeastern Rail
road, its right having vested. A
board of ski'led railroad commission
ers, consisting of John H Powers,
John A. Grant and Charles B. Wal
lac*, was appointed by Governor
Smith on application of the railroad
company to inspect the road, and re
ported January 9, 1877, that over
forty miles of said road were com
pleted, equipped and in running or
der, and the cost of said road was
$541,200, more than half of which
amount was the investment of private
capital. They also reported the road
free from legal incumbrances that
would Bmiougur the security of tue
State.
SO. 45
Upon my installation in office the
company applied to me for my en
dorsement of the bonds of the road
in conformity with the law. While
the oompany presented a strong c iso
for endorsement, in view of the dis
asters connected with similar enter
prises where State aid was granted,
and of my own opposition to the
policy of State aid, I used great, de
liberation in my action. I advised
the company to bring the subject be
fore the general assembly then in
session, but the session was too near
its close to permit its decisive action.
In the repealing act of 1874, section
2d, has this provision, viz: “Should
any of said companies claim that they
have a veded right to such aid, and
apply for the same to the Governor,
any citizen of the State may inter
pose by bill to restrain the company,
aod the question of whether said
vested right exists shall be for the
court to determine.” I suggested to
the company to have the rights of
the company tested nuder this pro
vision in the courts, and in conse
quence a bill of injunction was filed
by William S. Morris to restrain the
company, the proceeding being insti
gated by the company. The Attor
ney General was instructed to sup
port the injunction. The Supreme
Court decided that it had no jurisdic
tion in the case, and referred the
matter to the Governor.
The subject thus finally falling to
my decision, I gave it thorough con
sideration. The statements of the
officers and leadiug members of the
general assembly of |1874, that pass
ed the State aid repealing act, and
the declaratory re*olution that the
Northeastern Railroad was excepted
from the repeal, were obtained and
referred to me. They declared that
it was the express and general inten
tion of the legislature not to apply
the provisions of the repeal of State
aid to the Northeastern Railroad.
Among thosej who thus wrote were
Hon. L. N. Trammell, president of
the Senate; Hon. A. O Bacon,speak
er of the House; Hon.T. J. Simmons,
chairman of Finance Committea of
the House; Hon. Geo. F. Fierce, Jr.,
chairman of the House Judiciary
Committee; Hon. George H. Mercer,
pro fern chairman of same committee,
and the Hon. Henry D. McDaniel, of
the Finance Committee. In addition
to this, the opinions of some of the
ablest iaw’yi rs were given the Gov
ernor, notably among them Hon.
Robert Toombs, Gen. A. R. Lawton,
and ex-chi< f justice Joseph E. Brown,
arguing t be endorsement of the bonds
as a legal duty.
Even then, in the exercise of cau
tion, I determined to defer action on
the matter until the meeting of the
present general assembly if it could
be done without a sorioua sacrifice to
the interests involved. It was repre
sented to me that, upon the pledge
ofthe endorsement of its bonds by the
State, the company had incurred an
indebtedness of $237,632 97. It was
further exhibited to me by a trans
cript of the record of Clarke Superior-
Court, that this amount of claims was
already in amt against the road, and
that judgment therefore would be
entered up at the February term,
1878, of said court. 1 endeavored
to impress upon the attorneys and
officers of the company that they
must not look to the State fur relief
from their present embarrassment,
but that they should, by negotiating
a loan, or raising the money by some
means, tide over their trouble until
the legislature could meet and con
sider the matter. It was not until
I bad become'fully satisfied that all
hope of relief from other sources was
abandoned, and that the whole prop
erty of the company would inevitably
be sacrificed under the sheriff’s ham
mer, that I decided, within two weeks
of the judgment term of the court
to interfere.
I was satisfied that the faith of the
State was pledged to the indorsement
of the company’s bonds, and becom
ing further satisfied that great and
remediless injury would befall the
company, if such indorsement were
longer withheld, my seuse of official
duty left me no alternative but to
'give it.
As to the propriety of my conduct
in this matter, I invite the most
rigid scrutiny of the general aesem
bly.
The road is doing well, and there
is every prospert that it will meet its
obligations and save the State from
any loss on account of the guaranty
of its bonds, while it will contribute
largely in developing a fine portion
of the State.
In connection with this subject of
State aid, it may be proper to say
that application was made to me to
ascertain whether the State’s endorse
ment would be given to the bonds of
the Griffin, Monticello and Madison
Railroad, and it was urged that its
right had vested before tne repeal of
State aid. This road was not spe
cially excepted by the general assem
bly, nor was there any evidence that
it intended to except this road, nor
| was it exposed to immediate hazard
Continued on fourth Paqe y