Newspaper Page Text
Talks With Farmers
Conducted By C. H. Jordan
■> I I » I >»<♦»♦■! i I i f ■>■»< < > »♦♦♦■»
A ♦
•> Subscribers are requested to ad- ♦
♦ dress all Inquiries for Information ♦
♦ on subjects relating to the farm. ♦
♦ field, garden and poultry to the ♦
4» Agricultural Editor. All inquiries
will receive prompt and careful at- ♦
♦ tention. No Inquiries answered by ♦
♦ mail. Please address Harris Jordan. ♦
♦ Agricultural Editor. Monticello, Ga- ♦
I I I I I» I I I I I I
FLORIDA LONG
STAPLE GROWERS
The co-operative movement among the
cotton growers of the south started two
j ears ago in Georgia, is gradually ?
spreading out over the entire cotton belt
territory. The wide and constant agita
tion of the objects and purposes of the
Cotton Growers’ Protective association,
through the columns of the press and ad
dresses delivered at different times before |
agricultural gatherings has put the i
farmers to thinking, and they arc today i
beginning to realise that the only hope for I
their future salvation depends upon some J
system of co-operating together In the sale
of their farm products.
Every farmer will readily admit without
argument that co-operation is not only es
sential to success but is absolutely Im
perative. if agriculture is again to occupy
a high position along the desirable lines of '
prosperity. The great difficulty in the way I
is to perfect any sort of organisation |
which will first secure the enthusiastic t
endorsement of the rank and file of our
people and then hold them together long
enough to realize good results. Indiffer
ence on the part of the average farmer
to attend to his own business interests in
the markets and the want of confidence in
©ng another are the two chief causes of
failure to bring the agricultural classes
close together.
Farmers have. It seems, only desired to
do the work necessary to produce and put
into marketable condition their various
products needed for consumption by the
world. So far as perfecting any system by
which the supply of their products could
be made to meet the legitimate demand
of consumers and regulating the market
price of those products, based upon their
true value were concerned, the farmers
have by their actions appeared to be ut
terly indifferent. Yet the continued neg
lect of these last important essentials
have had more to do with failures on the
farm than all other things combined. We
make the products, and we ought to have
whatever legitimate profit the producer
la entitled to when the products are sold.
But. as already stated, the constant agi
tation of these defects in our system of
handling the products of our farms on the
market has put the fanners to thinking,
and they are now beginning to act. For
two years we have been gradually getting
together for the purpose of demanding
better prices for ourraw cotton, and
thousands of farmers in the short staple
belt have already been made converts and
are preaching the doctrine of co-operation.
Recently the long staple growers have
determined to unite their forces and by
organization and concert of action refuse
to any Jo ng er quietly submit to the dic
tation of two or three buyers who have
heretofore controlled the long staple cot
ton market of the south and fixed prices
at their own figures. *
Meeting at Alachua.
On January 15th. the meeting of the long
staple growers of East Florida was held
at Alachua, tn that state, as had been
previously stated in this paper. I had
been invited and was present at the con
vention to assist tn perfecting a state as
sociation of the Long Staple Cotton Grow-
of Florida. The recent success of the
members of a local club at Alachua had
in pooling 2.000 bales of cotton, and by
co-operation, forcing the price of their
staple from 16 cents per pound to 21 cents
before they would sell, thereby netting
about $50,000 in 6>> days was sufficient to
convince the producers in that section
that permanent organization was needful.
• Several hundred delegates from Alchua
county and surrounding counties were
present in the little city of /Uachua on
the day fixed for the convention. The
large auditorium in the handsome new
brick school building was crowded, and
quite a number could not get in. A large
number of the farmers wives and daugh
ters expressed their interest In the move
ment by their presence during the morn
ing exercises of the convention and later
by faking active charge of the dinner
which was so abundantly and d'lfght
fu’ly served during the dinner hour.
After a full presentation and general
discussion of the object and purposes of
the Southern Cotton Growers' Protective
A*ociation. It was unanimously decided
to at once perfect a state association of
• the long staple cotton growers of Florida,
and a business committee was appointed
to at on eg prepare a constitution, by
laws. and other details necessary, and
present back to the convention for rati
fication. This committee met in executive
aesainn immediately after dinner and af
ter some discussion adopted the same
constiution and by-laws already in force
in ail the other states which had organ
ized 'under the rules and regulations of
the Interstate Association. The follow
ing officers were elected at the head of the
F>ortda state association:
J. B. Dell, president. Gainesville. Fla.
James Chestnut, vice president. Alachua.
J. G. KClum. secretary and treasurer.
Alachua.
The election of the executive committee
which shall consist of three members
from each long staple county in th" state,
was postponed until the next m*eting.
which was called to meet at Alachua on
the second Wednesday in February.
All the derails of organization were
carefully worked out and the movement
will be pushed on a business basis. The
president was authorized to proceed at
once to the organization of sub-branches
of the state association In every long sta
ple cotton county in Florida, and it is con
fidently predicted that by next season the
long staple growers in that state will be
sufficiently united and posted on the value
of their staple to make the buyers pay
better prices than heretofore.
Warehouse Facilities.
The plan of establishing co-operative j
warehouses was fully discussed als4 at
the meeting, and the farmers at Alachua
have determined to construct a ware
house in which to store and hold their
cotton, instead of rushing it on the mar
ket as heretofore.
Each county will doubtless adopt the
_~ _ I
BOSTROM’S IMPROVED FARM LEVEL
I* net a MAKESHIFT, but
tte best oae made for Ter
& ‘l4*; racing. Ditching and Dram-
age. Price 95 00 including
9*SEFX Tripod and Sliding Target
® W Rod. Send for descriptive
z circular and Illustrated
Treatise on Terraong. free.
J. M *• FXANDER & CO..
W & it S Prvor M . st anta. Gl.
STAR PEA HULLER ™
Irt tc 15 bushels per hour. Write for circulars
and prices to the star Pea Machine Co.. Chatta
nooga. Tenn.
ISuccessful Cancer Cure’
Heals like anr other sore. First application
brings relief. Cures every case hard, soft or
ulcerating. Price *1.99. sent to any address by
XentHena Co.. Duluth. Oa. All letters ans
wered.
same plan, as warehouse facilities will be
needed to take care of the cotton and
preserve it from the weather and risk of
fire. Tho farmers may agree to build
these warehouses themselves or get the
railroads which operate through their ter
ritory to construct and maintain them.
An elegant old-fashioned barbecuo was
served to the delegates in royal style. A
long table, covered with snowy white
cloth, and loaded with hundreds of pounds
of crisp brown barbecue, fried chicken,
ham. potatoes, biscuit, custards, pies,
jellies, pickles, etc., giving out a savory |
odor which was truly inviting to a middle
Georgia farmer. And indeed there was
nos a single person present among the
hundreds who lined up on either side of
that bountiful spread who did not fully
enjoy his repast, and within his soul cast
a vote of thanks to the committee having
' the dinner in charge and particularly to
the fair ladles who made everything so
inviting through their cordial and hospita
ble entertainment.
I have never yet failed to secure a unan
imous sentiment among farmers in favor
; of organization immediately after their
I having feasted on a first-class barbecue
i dinner, and if we could keep up these
barbecues and the presence of the ladies
at all our meetings, organization would
rapidly grow into popularity throughout
the south.
I spent the night of the 15th and the
next day at the hospitable home of Mr.
James Chestnut, who lives six miles from
Alachua, and who is one of the pioneer
farmers in that section and one of the
| most influential and successful men in the
county. Therte is no greater pleasure for
me than in enjoying the cordial hospital
ity of a prosperous farmer, and I shall
not soon forget the happy, restful hours
spent under the roof of my host’s inviting
and particularly entertaining country
home.
The farm lands in that section of Ala
chua county are unusually fertile and
valuable for agricultural purposes. The
farmers were quite busy turning their
lands with two-horse turning plows, and
pushing their work preparatory to getting
everything in first-class condition fqr
planting later on.
It is a decided pleasure to ride through
a section of country where the farm lands
are in splendid condition and all things
point to successful agriculture through
the adoption and use of improved methods
and farming machinery.
Mr. Chestnut adheres strictly to the sys
tem rotation, and letting each field rest
every fourth year. Under this plan his
lands are kept up to the highest state of
their original natural fertility.
The question of having an official organ
for the benefit of the members of the as
sociation was discussed, and it was unan
imously agreed that such an organ was
imperative in properly and economically
disseminating the information needed.
This seems to be the general consensus of
opinion throughout air the state and we
hope soon to be able to announce all ar
rangements perfected for securing the
circulation of such a paper. If we will
work and pull together, we can grow and
prosper. . HARiVIE JORDAN.
INQUIRY DEPARTMENT.
C. W. D.. LaGrange Ga.:—Will you
please answer the following questions
in the Semi-Weekly Journal:
Where can I obtain Kaffir corn seed?
How late can it be planted to make a
crop? Which is best for the crop, bot
tom land or moderately dry land?
Ans.—Write to C. W. Hastings & Co..
seed store. Atlanta, Ga. If they do not
carry the seed in stock they can get
them for you. It requires about 100 days
to perfect the crop from planting to
maturity. About the 10th of July is as
late as you could plant to mature the
crop before frost. Kaffir corn with
stands drought better than most cereals
and can be planted on uplands in sum
mer to good advantage. It will also
make heavy crops on rich bottom lands.
Any lands in your section that are fair
ly fertile will grow good Kaffir corn if
planted properly and cultivated rapidly.
OATESTON. Ala. June 7, 1902.
D. A. W.—l herewith enclose you an
alysis of a specimen of muck that I
sent to B. B. Ross, state chemist of Al
abama. I enclose a copy of his letter.
I wish to know whether it is in the
proper proportions to make a good fer
tilized. If not. what additions would be
necessary to make it so. Is the quanti
ty of phosphoric acid too small in pro
portion to the other ingredients. I have
very large deposits of it on my land,
and’ if it is suitable for a fertilizer it
will be very valuable.
p. g._What is the commercial value
of the material according to the an
alysis.
ANALYSIS OF SAMPLE.
Moisture.. 4.36 per cent
Organic and volatile matter
Phosphoric acid .’ 0.16 per cent
Ans—As your state chemist notifies
you. this much is only Valuable as a
fertilizer In placing it on land deficient
im humus or organic matter—that is, land
which has been cultivated for sevebal
years in such crops as cotton or other
crops requiring clean culture. The an
alysis shows only a trace of phosphoric
acid, or about three pounds per ton,
and his analysis does not indicate wheth
er or not that proportion is valuable.
The muck would probably be most val
uable to you in composting with some
good formula in which proper propor
tions of all the three elements of plant
food were used, either obtained from
barnyard manure, cotton seed or com
mercial fertilizers. Broadcasting it heav
ily on your lands would also prove ben
eficial. You could not arrive at the
commercial value of the muck from the
analysis given.
IT REQUIRES NERVE
to stand the strain of nervous neuralgia,
rains in th" face, head or any part of the
body. These pains are quickly stopped by
the use of Perry Davis' Painkiller. The re
lief is Immediate and lasting. Do not suffer
a moment longer but use the Painkiller as
directed. Avoid substitutes, there Is but one
! Painkiller. Perry Davis'. Price 25c. and 50c.
death'oFagedspinster
REVEALED BIG FORTUNE
CRAWFORDSVILLE. Ind.. Jan. 23.
Relatives of America Stipe, an aged spin
ster who died this week, have since her
death uncovered a rich treasure in her
kitchen pantry.
In an old canister, surrounded by broken
dishes and battered tinware, they found
gold and bank notes to the amount of
nearly $2,000.
There were Mexican gold coins bearing
dates in the fifties, and looking as bright
as the day they came from the mint.
There was also a great roll of shin
plaster money of denominations ranging
from 10 to 50 cents. It is believed that
the money was hidden away before the
WORLD’S FAIR BOARD ~
ADJOURNS ITS SESSION
ST. LOUIS. Jan. 23.—The World's fair
national commission adjourned last night
after holding the second meeting of the
present session at its headquarters. The
adjournment was to February 6, when a
special meeting will be held in New York
city. It has been announced that this
meeting would be devoted to an outlining
of the duties of the board of lady mana
gers.
’ THE SEMI-WEEKLY JOURNAL, ATLANTA, GEORGIA, MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 1902
♦ WITH THE EXCHANGES. +
Farm Points.
Farm and Ranch.
A big cotton crop means a scarcity of
feed crops, poor cattle and horses, a
heavy outlay for bacon and other things
that ought to bo made at home, short
rations of butter and milk, and many ad
ditional things that must be bought; and,
worst of all, a low price for cotton.
The hog is said to be the mortgage
lifter and the cow the barn-builder and
the hen pays tho grocery bill, but the
sheep gets fat in his wool. While all
other animals cross the scales at their
gross weight simply, the sheep leaves be
hind it a coupon in the s.iape of a good
fleece of wool.
To all appearances many farmers enjoy
muscular exertion. They seem to work
just for the fun of it. For instance, In
stead of killing weeds when a little effort
would suffice, the work is postponed until
the labor is greatly increased. Tools kept
clean and bright can be used with little
effort, compared to the rusty implements
which some seem to prefer. To be fore
handed means less labor and better re
sults. yet many choose the other plan.
Would it not seem that if a person dis
liked work he would use every means pos
sible to save it? He would not walk two
miles when one would suffice. He would
keep his work well in hand, would kill
weeds In their Infancy, keep tools bright
and in every way try to save labor.
The Vermont experiment station has
analyzed 134 brands of fertilizer this year
and has found six-sevenths of them to be
as good as they were promised to be.
Most of the remainder at least gave as
much money value as they were guaran
teed to contain. The character of the ma
terials used was usually good, the quali
ty of the fertilize/ averaged a little high
er than last Se ar and plant food bought
in this way proved as cheap as it ever had
been in Vermont.
The farmer buying a ton of the average
fertilizer on credit paid sl9 for his plant
food and $9.50 to the manufacturer, the
agent and the railroad for making, selling
and freighting it. Some farmers who
have considered $1 in three a u.tle high,
have put some thought into the matter
and got quite a lltue more fertilizer for
their money by buying the raw materials
and mixing them at home.
Fallacy of Ridging Corn.
Farmers' Voice.
No farm practice is more inimical to in
telligent corn culture than that alarming
ly common in the corn belt of laying by
the corn with large shovels set to throw
the earth from between the rows into a
ridge centering in the rows. Ridges thus
formed increase the exposed surface and
hence make possible larger evaporation of
foisture. Moreover, they leave the mid
dles hard and compact, so that the soil
pumps ooze out the water by the ton, and
compel the foraging roots of the plants to
go straight down for food and moisture
which should be available in the first sev
eral inches of soil that has been removed
from the middles and thrown about the
base of the plapts.
Ridging spoils the surface of the ground
for pasture and meadow unless it be re
peatedly worked. If you should sow
clover in the corn and lay the latter by
with ridge-forming shovels your clover
pasture always would be a series of
bumps, which would aggravate the driver
of the mowing machine, cause the hay
loader trouble and annoy in other ways.
In a rolling country, where, strange to
say, ridging is commonest, the practice is
of greater disadvantage than in the prairie
country, since in the former it furnishes
convenient surface avenues for the es
cape of water, which in a short season
transforms them into small ditches and
skims off the cream, as it were, of the
land and deposits it in the creek or
stream, leaving the farmer a veritable
new but poor farm.
Level culture is not only easier on the
corn, team and workman, but is decidedly
better for the land. It avoids root prun
ing, aerates the soil and removes weeds.
Experiments have shown that it also will
give larger yields than ridge culture. Then
why ridge your corn?
We know one of the principal reasons
why corn growers do it. Ridging covers
up a large number of weeds growing in
the hill and thus makes the field appear
clean. We are convinced that the weeds
if left uncovered cannot do as much in
jury to the corn plants as the ridges will
inflict.
Make Home Tests.
Farm and Ranch.
It is now admitted by agricultural chem
ists-that the best soil diagnosis is actual
tests with plants. The chemist can tell
us what substances the soil contains, but
the actual nutrient condition of the ele
ments can best be determined by grow
ing crops and observing their develop
ment. A samply may show an ample
supply of phosphoric acid, and yet the
plants may grow vigorously and fail to
develop seed, because the phosphoric acid
is not in a readily available form. The
potash may be ample, also In quality, but
in a form distasteful to the plants. For
these reasons every farmer should learn
from the development of his crops what
fertilizers his crops need. Tho chemical
analysis is a great help, but not conclu
sive, for oftbn the chamist and the crop
will differ, and in all such cases the crop
is right and the chemist is at fault. If
plants are small and seem to lack luxuri
ance. nitrogen is needed; gif the fruit or
plant lacks flavor, color or starchy de
velopment. potash is needed, and if seed
development is lacking phosphoric acid
is required.
The most profitable crops generally are
those that give the heaviest yield. If a
farmer grows two bales per acre—and
much more than that has been made—
his cotton costs him less than if he had
grown the same amount on five acres.
This will apply as well to corn, or other
crops as to cotton. Only a few farmers
know how to go about It to grow two or
more bales of cotton or 100 or 200 bushels
of corn per acre; but there is no good
reason why they should not learn how the
thing is done. Three, four and even five
bales of cotton and more than 200 bush
els of corn have been grown on a single
acre—not by farmers who believe that
all there is in farming is hard work and
favorable seasons, but by men who have
made a deep study of plant culture and
nutrition and have experimented until
they have developed superior methods. It
Is hardly practicable for all farmers to
make anything like these enormous
yields; but any progresive farmer who
goes to work on the problem thoughfully
and energetically, can at least greatly
increase his yields, and also his profits.
All those farmers who have established
notable records are successful, prosperous
and enthusiastic.
Continue the preparation of the soil for
spring planting. The recent freezes will
be found to greatly aid the harrow in
puverizing the surface soil. Remember,
the soil cannot be too finely pulverized.
Less seed is required because a larger per
cent, will germinate on a finely commi
nuted soil, and a quicker and more vigor
ous growth will result. Such a soil will
both contain more and retain better what
ever water it may receive, and the plant
food is rendered more easy of access to
the finely divided feeding roots.
VAST o7LGUSHER~
IS LIKE A CATARACT
PARKERSBURG. W. Va.. Jan. 23.-The
largest gas well’in the state has been
struck in Pleasants county.
It is flowing at* the rate estimated to be
about fifteen million feet of gas a day.
In addition to the gas it is also produc
ing over 250 barrels of oil a day.
The drill has only reached the top of
the sand and a larger flow is expected
when the well is drilled in.
+ *
* POLITICAL GOSSIP. *
Will Hon. Dupont Guerry, the Macon
candidate for governor, have the pleas
ure of meeting Mr. Terrell, Mr. Estill and
Mr. Brown in joint debates, or will he
have to speak all alone to the voters of
th® state?
It is not thought that the other can
didates will meet Mr. Guerry on the
stump, although the majority of the vot
ers would like very much to have the op
portunity of listening to the various as
pirants.
It would really be a treat to see them
all together, speaking on the various is
sues of the day. Then the voters could
form their own ideas of the best man, and
besides could get a glimpse of what their
next governor would be like.
But it is feared that Mr. Guerry will
have to go it alone. The other candidates
do not seem anxious to get into the mix
up. but prefer going about to different
places and without any interruption giv
ing vent to their vfews.
Is J. Pope Brown, of Pulaski, a candi
date for governor? That question is ask
ed me and others many times every day,
and I think the time has arrived for Mr.
Brown to make known the fact to the
people of Georgia. Some time last sum
mer Mr. Brown saiu that at the proper
time he would make his announcement
for governor, but since then he has re
mained silent. When approached for a
statement, he Is always busy farming, or
has the interests of the railroad commis
sion to look after. Now and then there is
a rumor that Mr. Brown will not run, that
he has told some of his friends so. But
those friends can never be found, and Mr.
Brown will not say anymore than he has
heard the rumor himself and that he
knows nothing about it. What will Mr.
Brown do?
It is understood that Hon. T. W. Hard
wick, of Washington, candidate for con
gress in the Tenth Congressional district,
is preparing a reply to the announcement
of Congressman Fleming which appeared
in The Journal Monday. Congressman
Fleming took occasion to rap Mr. Hard
wick for his position on the status of the
14th amendment to the Constitution of the
United States, and it is -said tha Mr.
Hardwick's reply will serve out a new
dish to Mr. Fleming, in the way of pollcl
cal communications.
Mr. Hardwick is making things warm
in his district just now, and the reply, so
it is reported, will be sent to every voter
in the Tenth.
Hon. J. M. Terrell, candidate for gov
ernor has sent out about 50,000 copies of
his announcement to the voters of the
state. The announcements were mailed at
Greenville, Ga., Thursday and the day
before, and some of the voters in Atlan
ta have already received them. The an
nouncements are the same that appeared
in the press. Mr. Terrell will make his first
speech about February 15th, and in that
speech will elaborate on t/ie various is
sues which were briefly discussed in his
announcement. T. J. SIMMONS, JR.
SUPPOSED BURGLAR
SHOT AND KILLED
MACON. Jan. 23.—Lee Bland, alias “Big
Geechee.’’ a negro crap shooters, was
shot down and killed in Third street, at
Cherry street, last night at 8 o'clock. Mr.
H. P. Wrigley, of the Atlantic and Pa
cific Tea company, did the shooting.
The coroner’s Jury returned a verdict of
justifiable homicide, and the police de
clined to take charge of Mr. Wrigley. He
had voluntarily surrendered to them pend
ing an investigatlqn.
The negro was found with a pistol in
his right hand, an open knife in his left
hand and a couple of dice in his pocket.
The pistol had been snapped on the only
empty shell in the cylinder. Several peo
ple witnessed the shooting.
The trouble occurred in this way: Mr.
Wrigley, Mr. Jack Dennis and Mr. J. T.
Pearce were in the rear of Reid's shoe
store, posting some lodge books. The front
part of the store was in darkness. They
had not been at work long before the
front door creaked. Mr. Dennis turned
on the lights and Mr. Wrigley seized the
pistol that was lying on the desk. The
negro was seen rushing out of the door.
It was thought he had burglarized the
store and Mr. Wrigley chased him. At
Third street the negro turned and snap
ped his pistol, and held his knife ready in
his left hand. Mr. Wrigley's shot entered
the right side and made its way into the
heart across the body. Death was almost
instantaneous.
THE SOUTH GAINING FAST.
The discovery that the south is gaining
population proportionately faster than the
north has surprised many persons, but not
those who have observed what has been
going on in this section during the past
ten years.
The recent statement of the census bu
reau of the remarkable absolute and rela
tive growth of this section, which was
more marked in the last decade than in
any previous one, has attracted the at
tention of capital and enterprise in this
direction even more decidedly than it had
already turned hitherward.
The commercial and financial journals,
as well as the political press, are devoting
much time and space to the discussion
of this matter. All agree that there is
a great future opening before this sec
tion and predict its rapid and substan
tial advancement. The St. Louis Republic
says:
“The increasing attractiveness of the
south as a field for investment and settle
ment accounts for this marked increase of
population. Outside capital is being drawn
to the development of the south's natural
resources. The section’s industrial growth
has been amazing during the past few
years.
“The demand for labor has been vast
ly stimulated as a consequence. The inev
itable result of these changed conditions
is now apparent in the census reports.
“The southern states have every reason
to look forward with confidence to a pe
riod of growth such as has not heretofore
been known. The attention of capitalists
is most favorably secured. Where capital
goes, the labor necessary to industrial de
velopment follows. Within the next ten
years tho south will unquestionably take
the lead in the rate of population in
crease if present indications possess any
value as affording a basts for estimate.”
Opinions like these come from the lead
ing newspapers of every part of the coun
try. There is a remarkable unanimity
of opinion that the south is cn the up
grade and moving at a sure pace toward
a magnificent future.
RED CROSS PROTESTS
AGAINST ANY CHANGE
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 23.-Th e Red
Cross Society of California, through its
president, Mrs. E. A. Harrington, has
sent a telegram to President Roosevelt
stating that “in the opinion of this society
the present method of government trans
portation from this port to the Philippines
cannot be changed without grave injury
to the health and comforts of the officers
and enlisted men of the army.” z
CANTALOUPE SEED!
One thousand pounds finest market va
rieties Acme, Nutmeg, Jenny Lind. Hack
ensack and Rocky Ford, 55c pound by
mail. If by express 10c pound less. Water
melon—Jones, Dixie, Early Market, Fa
vorite, Pride of Georgia, Rattlesnake—
same price as cantaloupe. Bliss Triumph,
finest and earliest yet introduced, $4.75
barrel, $1.75 busnel, 60 cents peck; Early
Rose, $4.2'5, $1.50, 50c.
Sweet Peas Grandifiora Mixture, 10c
ounce; one-quarter pound, 20c; one pound,
50e. by mall.
Garden. Field and Flower Seeds in large
supply. Send for catalogue.
MARK. W. JOHNSON SEED CO.,
Atlanta, Ga.
I
+ WITH THE EXCHANGES, ♦
• State Dispensaries.
From an explanation of the dispensary
law in South Carolina, by Senator Tillman
to a few friends at his room Wednesday,
says the David City, lowa Press, it comes
the nearest to being an equitable solution
of the liquor question yet devised. Under
this law, a state commissioner, with an
advisory board, purchases all the liquors
brought into the state. It is taken to a
central depot, analyzed by experts for pur
ity and' quality, as the law permits no
harmful adulterations, after which it is
bottled and sealed up, its age and quantity
labeled, and every kind and quality has
the price printed on a card. There are 90
dispensaries in the state. A dispensary
looks like any drug store, railed off in
front like a bank. The purchaser goes to
the railing, looks over a can? to see what
he wants, makes his selection, then fills
out a blank, stating his age and place of
residence and the kind of liquor he wants.
He pushes this blank and the price over
to the dispenser and receives the liquor
in the sealed packages as they were put
up in the state dispensary. The blank is
not for the purpose of espionage over the
purchaser, but as a check on the dispen
ser. Nd liquor Is allowed to be sold af
ter sundown, and none to minors. The dis
pensers are appointed by the state board,
but in most counties the party conventions
nominate the dispensers, and the success
ful candidate’s name is sent to the state
board and the people's choice is invariably
appointed.
The dispensers are z under bonds and
draw a fixed salary. Tie has neither op
portunity nor desire to push the trade.
One of the benefits is the fact that by the
elimination of the treating habit drunken
ness and street brawls have disappeared.
There is no organized liquor power,
watchful for its profits and expert in mar
shaling the weak or devilish in defense of
its interests. It has been a blessing to the
blacks. Like many whites—only more so.
the colored man is a great hand to buy
anything he can get on credit, therefore,
the liquor held a perpetual mortgage on
the r negrocs. Under the dispensary sys
tem liquor is cash, and the blacks are
using less of it. Where certain streets
used to be filled with brawling negroes ev
ery Saturday afternoon and evening, now
all is quiet. Whatever the traffic earns
over expenses, is divided as follows: One
half to the state, one-quarter to the coun
ty and one-quarter to th® municipality
where the liquor is sold. The one-fourth
interest brings more revenue to the towns
than under the old license system, when
they got it all. If the South Carolina law
was in effect all over the country, four
fifths of all the; great-problems that now
vex the social and political situation
would have no existence.
No Barrooms in Russia.
Anna N. Benjamin in Ainftee's.
The 360 government shops in St. Petersburg,
where vodka is sold, are meant to sepersede
almost entirely the old traktirs, taverns or
selons, which formerly adorned the thorough
fares of Russian cities and towns, just as
they do in our own blessed land. In these
traktirs the workmen and the peasant could
sit and sip their vodka by the hour, the day
or the night, and find in jovial companionships
encouragement to further excesses. Now, ex
cept for a very small number of traktirs, and
the restaurants of higher class, this evil Is
abolished. The government depot for the sale
of vodka Is bare and uninviting, except for
Its air of decency and cleanliness. A sign over
the door announces the character of the estab
lishment, and you enter to And yourself be
fore a long counter with a cage above it and
two little gates like in a bank. Behind on
shelves are quantities of the bottles of all
sizes and both qualities, arranged with utmost
precision, and In a rear room are reserve
stores replenished by the cases which are con
stantly sent from the factory. Business is
lively in these vodka shops. The door admits
a never ending stream of customers during
hours. The shops are closed at night and open
only for a short time on holidays. Some of
those who enter are laden with empty bottles,
and thus get the price discounted on their
next supply; some go away like John Gilpin,
with a huge bottle on either side, while others
pass over six kopecs, carry their small meas
ure of vodka outside, where they knock the
cork out with a blow, swallow the contents at
a gulp, and then return with the bottle fbr
more, paying only four kopecs this time. But
when a man is actually drunk the shopkeeper
Is not allowed to sell aim any liquor, and
there is no place in the shops where the cus
tomer may sit down; to drink so much as
a drop on the premises Is absolutely forbidden.
In connection with these shops there Is some
interesting facts relative to the govemmept
policy in running the monopoly. The conditions
attached to the part of shopkeeper are such
that well-educated, self-respecting men and
women can undertake the work. Out of the
360 shops in St. Petersburg 300 are attended by
women and they are paid a salary of 720 to 900
roubles a year. This is good pay in Russia.
Besides, they have lodging over the shop with
fuel and light. Sometimes, also, they are pro
vided with an assistant. I was told that most
of these women were of good family, and I
talked with one who was very intelligent and
spoke fluently in French. None of the many
women in this employment has ever taken a
kopec from tho monopoly, whereas there has
been considerable loss through the dishonesty
of men employes. Therefore, women are gen
erally preferred. In the country shops the sum
total of all the monopoly shops is about
1.900 .the keepers mostly men. It is necessary
to maintain 2,000 collectors, who are princi
pally from the peasant class, to gather in the
accounts and the money received in the shops
from licensed traktirs.
When de Witte first laid his scheme before
the council of ministers, one made the objec
tion that it would be impossible to trust the
officials with so much money, to which he
answered:
“I am quite sure that if an embezzlement
happens it will be among the higher official
classes, rather than the lower.” And his words
have proved true. The humble officials have
performed their tasks with remarkable hon
eSßtit as interesting as are the methods of the
Russian government in constituting itself sole
manufacturer and seller of a product for which
there is such an enormous universal demand,
the essential point concerns attainment rather
than the means employed. Has the vodka tpo
nopoly in Russia realized the prophecies of de
Witte and his supporters?
Sunday Saloons in London.
New York Evening Post.
Oddly enough, at the time when the opening
of saloons on Sunday is advocated in New York,
the closing of "public houses” on that day is
agitated In London. The experience of England
during the past century shows a strong ten
dency toward restriction of the Sunday traf
fic. Formerly there was no legal check upon
the sale of liquor on the first day of the week,
but by 1828 the feeling against drunkenness
and consequent disorder, which interfered with
religious services, had become so strong that
parliament passed an act closing the public
houses in London during the hours of such ser
vices in the morning and evening. ■
But this rule allowed people to drink in
the early forenoon, and there was still so
much trouble that in 1839 the law was amend
ed so as to forbid opening before 1 o'clock in
the afternoon. The restriction worked so well
in London that Liverpool. Manchester and New
Castle secured its application to them, and in
1848 the arrangement was extended to the whole
of England. By 1854 public sentiment in favor
of keeping the houses closed a larger part
of Sunday impelled parliament to reduce the
hours of opening to from 1 to 3 in the afternoon
and from 6 until 11 in the evening.
There has thus been a steady progress toward
the restriction of the Sunday traffic in England
and there is now a strong sentiment In favor
of legislation forbidding all sales. In view of
the theory that the workingmen demand . Sun
day saloons it is worth while to note that in I
a recent canvass of the men employed in
fifty-six London workshops showed in round
numbers lO.tAO for closing and only 1,000 for
opening. It is also kiteresting to learn that a
canvass of over 400 "publicans,” as the Eng
lish style what we call saloon keepers, in many
different London districts, resulted in a vote of
2.324 for Sunday closing and 1,939 for opening.
It is known to those who have made investiga
tions here that many saloon keepers in New
York would prefer not to do business on Sun
day.
RECEIVER FOR BANK
IS ASKED BY BANKER
A bill for a receiver for the Atlanta
Bank of Commerce and M. L. Bates and
W. A. Bates was filed In the Superior
court Thursday afternoon by Robert J.
Lowry, president of the Lowry National
bank.
Judge Lumpkin signed an order restrain
the defendants from in any way disposing
of the assets of the bank and fixing a
hearing for the defendants to show cause
before him why the receiver should not
be appointed, on January 29.
Tn the bill Colonel Lowry makes sensa
tional allegations as to the manner in
which M. L. and W, A. Bates have beeK
conducting the affairs of the institution
and'alleges that it has been negligently
and Incompetently done, that they have
not discharged their duty and that the
entire conduct of the business has been a
grossly mismanaged affair.
SUGGESTIONS FROM
OUR CORRESPONDENTS
1 _ •
ORDINARIES SHOULD NOT
CHARGE THE PENSIONERS
Under the above caption I desire,
through you, to call the attention of the
honorable ordinaries of our glorious old
commonwealth to the heretofore practices
of charging the poor old destitute soldiers
and widows $1 for the few moments’ ser
vice required to receive' and deliver the
checks given by the state to these benefi
ciaries as pensions to protect them from
hunger and suffering. While the dollar is
of small moment to these officers, it is
sufficient to furnish these poor old people
their breakfast coffee during the entire
year, without which but few of them can
relish their food. In view of the hardship
of camp life and the perils of the many
hard-fought battles which these worthies
so heroically endured, I do not think it
robbery to suggest that the ordinaries de
liver and the banks cash these checks
without remuneration or discount.
With the highest regard for the welfare
of these living monuments of our glorious
yet lost cause, as well as a desire that
thesf officers will regard this suggestion
in the same humane and friendly spirit
that prompts the writer to make it, I, as
a non-pensioned Confederate soldier, sub
scribe myself very truly and devotedly a
son of Dixie. L. B. L.
Adrian, Ga., Jan. 17.
NO DIVISION IN NEWTON
IN COMING LEGISLATIVE FIGHT
In your paper of last Friday there was
a communication which indicated some
contention in the politics of Newton coun
ty between the eastern and western por
tions.
As one w r ho lives near the middle of the
county and who has been in the county
more than thirty years. I wish to say that
this article was the first intimation I had
had of any existing division between any
portions of our county or of any which
has ever existed.
I am well acquainted with Mr. Coffee,
of the east side, and Mr. King, of the
west, and am sure no strife exists between
them or their many friends. I have just
interviewed Mr. Coffee and he says he Is,
not even a candidate at present and is not
sure that he will be one in the future.
I will thank you to say in your widely
read paper that in old Newton we are a
united people, north, east, south and
west.
Please publish this in the earliest issue
of your dally after receiving it.
G. C. ADAMS, Oxford, Ga.
THINKS TELEPHONES SHOULD
BE USED ON ALL TRAINS
Gentlemen: In this day of wonderful
invention and achievement, there is no
reason (except pecuniary) why all trains
should not be equipped with telephone
communication with the train dispatcher’s
office, thus enabling the conductor and
engineer to ascertain the whereabouts of
all running trains at any moment. The
dispatcher would be “central” and could
direct the movement of trains by tele
phoning instead of telegraphing, which
would be much safer than the present sys
tem. As you know these are not new
ideas, but have been expressed many
times before; but as I have Intimated, it
would cost a good deal of money to put
the system in operation.
A PROGRESSIVE READER.
Griffin, Ga.
EXPLAINS HOW STAMPS
WERE SOLD BY NEELY
Dear Sir: Having read in recent issues
of your paper, accounts of the reopening
of the Rathbun-Neely trial at Havana,
and as I happened to be engaged in busi
ness there during 1898, I believe that I
can furnish tome Interesting information
in regard to the frauds perpetrated at that
time.
At the time our government took
charge of the Havana postoffice the old
Spanish stamps were discontinued and our
United States stamps with the word
Cuba printed across the face in
black were put in use for the time being
and about six months afterward, the reg
ular issue of Cuban stamps were received,
and we are all familiar with the facts as
published then. How the old stamps
were counted by the inspector, wrapped in
bundles and were supposed to have been
burned, before witnesses. But the govern
ment discovered that they had never been
destroyed which was proven by a witness,
but the government was never able to
find out how the stamps were disposed of,
as they were not sold at the postoffice.
This is what I believe I can easily ex
plain. At* that time I was conducting a
soda wrater and ice cream parlor on
O’Reilly street, one oJ the principal streets
of Havana, and on about August Ist Post
master Rathburn’s chief clerk came to see
me saying that the postoffice department
had decided to establish several stamp
agencies throughout the city, and that to
secure an agency I would have to pur
chase $25 worth of stamps, not less than
twice a week, and would receive one dollar
per month for handling them. This I
willingly agreed to, thinking that an agen
cy would attract trade, but I soon discov
ered that these agencies had been estab
lished in every little store and cigar stand
in the city, so you will readily see the
scheme. As all of these agencies Were sup
plied with the stolen stamps, it did not
take but a short time to dispose of the
SIO,OOO worth of stamps in a city the size
of Havana. I give this story for what it is
worth, thinking that if thp story has nev
er been told it may prove interesting read
ing for the public. Yours very truly,
STANFIELD H. JOHNSTON.
P. S.—You will remember me as having
been the agent for The Journal at Colum
bus for several years. S. H. J.
Fries, Va., Jan. 17th.
SMOKE FROM COPPER MINES
PLAYS HAVOC AT DUCKTOWN
Quite an excitement has been raging at
Ducktown. Tenn., and the surrounding
country since the report was circulated
that two men had been smothered to
death in the sulphur smoke at the Burr
Copper mines at that place.
It is reported that two men. while at
their work were suffocated and also that
quite an amount of stock had been
killed.
The report was quite generally believed
because it was known that the copper
mined from the Burr mines lately was
unusually strong with sulphur.
All the copper contains more or less
sulphur, but the ore which has been mined
recently from the Burr mines contains
more than any yet found. It seems, how
ever. upon Investigation that ti«e men
were not smothered to death, but were
so badly suffocated in the smoke that
they were quite a while in coming to.
Everyone was greatly relieved when it
was made known that the men had re
vived. for both men were well known in
the town and their death would have been
deeply felt by many.
The men were at work in the “roast
sheds” which are adjacent to the Burr
mines, and where all Cm'
this mine is roasted.
These “roast sheds" before the ore is
put in them are nothing more than seven
or eight wooden sheds each covering an
area of about four or five hundred square
feet of ground, and appear at a distance
to be some kind of a gypsy encampment.
Under each shed the ground is covered
with wood about two fee, high. This
wood having been set afire, several hun
dred tons of copper ore, in its natural
state, is poured in upon it. This ore is
brought to the surface from within the
mine by means of small cages, or skips
as they are called, then taken by the ca
ble cars to the rock-breaker, where it is
broken into smaller pieces, and finally
transferred to the roast sheds. It stays
in these sheds, roasting for about ninety
days, and is then removed to the furnace,
from whence it issues pure copper, or al
most so.
The sulphur fumes coming front the
ore while roasting at the sheds of the
mines are strong enough to stifle any
one remaining in them for any length
of time, but at the Burr mines they, are
even worse than at any of the others.
The men who work at these sheds are
very particular, when they must go Into
this smoke, not to lose their bearings, for
if one were to get lost in the smoke it
would mean almost certain suffocation.
These two men who were thought dead
seemed to have become confused in the
smoke and before they could get out into
pure air they were overcome, and had it
pot been that help reached them imme
diately they would have most certainly
died.
This sulphur smoke has also done much
damage to both the farming lands and
the timber in the surrounding country,
covering a radius of about ten miles. Os
course the land farthest away is damaged
the least, some of it not showing any
signs of being at all damaged. The lands •
in Tennessee are damaged far more than
those in Georgia, although a part of
Ducktown is right on the line, the rea
son being that most of the roast sheds are
about five miles from Georgia.
There are several cases in the courtz
now against the company for damages to
lands and to timber, and it js rumored
that Superintendent Adams has received
orders from New York to pay all wages,
take the pumps from the mines and shut
down everything as soon as a bill of in
junction has been filed. Should such a
thing occur there' would be hundreds of
people almost upon starvation wlthih a
very short time, for there are about 6.000
people depending solely upon the mines
for a living. Many are the hopes ex
pressed that no such a thing will occur,
for it would be a pitiable sight to see
several thousand mea thrown out of em
ployment right in the dead of winter, with
nothing whatever to fall back upon, for
•most of them live up to every cent of
their wages. R- S. ROBB.
Epworth, Ga.
THE NEED OF DIET REFORM.
We have lately heard from many sci
entists and practical philosophers that the
average man eats entirely too much and
that he could both reduce his living ex
penses and Improve his health and vigor
by adopting lighter and simpler diet.
It is undoubtedly true that most of us,
who can procure all the food we desire,
take in too much.
A great many of us for one reason or
another eat so rapidly that we do not di
gest our food properly.
Dyspepsia is a national and an increas
ing disease. We are slaves to habit in
eating as well fs in other matters. A
famous English surgeon has given it as
his opinion that more persons acquire dis
eases and shorten their lives by overeating
than by indulgence in intoxicating liquors.
The two meal-a-day plan is growing in
popularity and has its enthusiastic advo
cates among the plain people as well as
those who have studied the question sci
entifically.
The Americans besides eating too much
as a rule, do not choose their diet wisely.
They are the most caniverous race on
earth. More vegetables and less meat
would save them much money and many
bodily ills. Comparatively few of us ap
ply the rules of common sense to our
habits of eating and pay a heavy penalty
for this rashness. The reformers who are
They are the most carniverous raca on
sometimes go to extremes, but on the
whole they are on the right line and will
accomplish much good.
Heart
Disease
Ninety Per Cent of It Really Caused
• From Poor Digestion.
Real organic heart trouble Is Incurable,
but scarcely one case in a hundred is
organic.
The action of the heart and stomach are
both controlled by the same great nerves,
the sympathetic and pneumogastic, and
when the stomach falls to properly digest •
the food and it lies in the stomach fer
menting, gases are formed which distend
the organ causing pressure on the heart
and lungs, causing palpitation, irregular
ity and shortness of breath.
The danger from this condition is that
the continued disturbance of the heart
sooner 01 later may cause real organic;
heart trouble, and in fact frequently does
so. ‘
Furthermore, poor digestion makes the
blood thin and watery and deficient in red
corpuscles and this further irrtates and
weakens the heart.
The most sensible thing to do for
heart trouble is to insure the digestion
and assimilation of the food.
This can be done' by the regular use
after meals of some safe, pleasant and
effective digestive preparation, like Stu
art's Dyspepsia Tablets, which may be
found at most drug stores and which con
tain the necessary digestive elements in
a pleasant, convenient form.
Thousands of people keep well and vig
orous by keeping their digestion perfect by
observing the rule of taking one or two
of these tablets after each meal, or at
■east after eauh hearty meal.
Stuart's Dyspepsia Tablets contain U.
S. P. pepsin, diastase from malt and other
natural digestives which act only on the »
food, digesting it perfectly and preventing
acidity, gases and the many diseased con
ditions which accompany a weak stomach.
When Stuart's Dyspepsia Tablets are
used you may know you are not taking
into the system any strong medicine or
powerful drug, but simply the natural
digestive elements which every weak
stomach lacks.
So widely known and popular have these
tablets become that they are now sold by
every druggist in the United Statee, Can
ada and Great Britain.
5