Newspaper Page Text
• i
THE BANNER-WATCHMAN
GOES IN SEARCH OF A DE
LAYED RAILROAD,
AND FINDS IT COMING TO
WARDS ATHENS AT THE
SPEED OF HALF A MILE
PER DAY.
THE CONTRACTORS TO BE
PAID-OFF TO-DAY AND
WORK PUSHED FOR-
WARD.
DESCRIPTION OF TOWNS
AND LANDS BETWEEN
MACON AND MADI
SON.
A RICH TERRITORY THAT
WILL POUR ITS PRODUCTS
INTO THE COMMERCIAL
LAP OF THE CLASSIC
CITY.
THE ROAD BED AND EQUIP
MENTsOF THE MACON &
COVINGTON RAILROAD.
The Covington A Macon railroad will
be built to Athens, and 1 believe that
it will he in operation by next fall—in
time to pour into the commercial lap of
our city for 1887, the products of one of
the richest sections of the Umpire State
of the South.
Wednesday evening of last week,
while in Madison, Col. Frobel, general
manager of this road, arrived in that city,
and I, together with Judge Jenkins and
Mr. T. W. l*ow*dl, the latter gentleman
a contractor, called on Col. F. in his
room at the tilenn House. 1 found him
a distinguished looking gentleman, appa
rently :»:» or years of age, and resem
bling an Knglishinan. That he was a
man of tine business capacity you could
see at a glance. Col. Frobel was a very
pleasant gentleman, too, and welcomed
our party cordially, ami answered my
questions readily and without reserve.
He >ays that the road has at last settled
all of its troubles, and will be pushed on
to Athens as fast as possible. The con
tractors have not received any money
since the 22d of last December, but their
accounts have been audited and approv
ed. ami on the loth inst. every claim
again>t the road will be settled in full,
and after that lime bills will be prompt
ly met on the loth and .‘loth of each
month. The grading beyond Monticello
is completed and has been paid for, as
also the bridge at Macon, the iron and
rolling stock, and all that the company
now owes is for the work between Madison
and Monticello. The road is easy now
as to finances, and no further trouble is
looked for. Col. Frobel further tells me
that he has enough iron now on hand, as
also cross-ties, to complete the road to
Shady Dale, ami by July at furthest he
will have the road in operation to Madi
son. 1 asked him if there was any pos
sibility of the road stopping at Madison
or being diverted from Athens, and also
when it would reach here. He replied
that Athens was the settled terminus of
the road, and nothing could now result
in changing the route. He wanted to
complete the road as he went, so as to
keep it inoperatmr, and have it earning
something. Just so soon as the grading
i> finished to Madison he wanted to put
an increased force at work this side of
the (ieorgia road, and as fast as men
could move the dirt it would be done.
The rolling stock to operate the entire
line is now at Macon, the iron to equip
the road to Athens contracted for and
the money in bank to pay for it. liy next
fall the road will he in operation to our
city, and possibly sooner.
.fudge Jvnkins asked Col. F'obel what
would be the chance for getting hia as
sistance to equip a branch road from
Fatonton to Madison. The reply was
that if the citizens interested would
grade and cross-tie it that the C. M.
company will iron and operate the line.
This Judge Jenkins replied could be
done. The Katonion branch will be a
valuable feeder to Athens, and our peo
ple will doubtless help to build it. We
know of no more important short line
that we can construct, or one that could
make tributary to Athens a richer section
of country.
Col. Frobel expressed his earnest wish
that 1 ride over the entire road and in
ject it, and report to our people things
just as 1 found them. He said that he
appreciated the anxiety and doubts of
Athens about the enterprise, and he l»e-,
lioved that a personal inspection by my
self of the work done would enable me
to give a report through the Banner-
Watchman on my return home that
would convince our readers that all was
well. On this request being earnestly
seconded by Mr. l’owell, who had brought
a horse to Madison for me to ride, 1
agreed to make the trip, feeling that I
could not spend a more profitable time,
or go where 1 could collect more valu-
aole information for our people. And
further, 1 stated to Col. Frobel that 1
would report things just as 1 found them,
whether favorable or unfavorable to the
success of the road, as I wanted to lay a
plain, unvarnished statement before th*.
people of Athens on my leturn. He said
that this was just as he wished, and on
reaching Macon that I must inspect the
rolling stock, go to their office, and that
no information that can throw light
on the prospects of the road
would be withheld from me. lie then
wrote a pass for an unlimited party over
the completed part of the road, that Mr.
Tow< 11 and myself might take along as
many friends as we wished. We set the
time for leaving next morning, after an
early breakfast, and decided to go or.
horseback, as the heavy rains had render-
ed the roads about impassable and the
streams were greatly swollen. Besides,
1 could with more satisfaction examine
the track than were 1 in a buggy.
My first work was to see how the cred
it of the road stood in Madison. The
merchants sold the contractors on their
individual responsibility, and of course
had not been paid since December.
They were getting rather clamorous for
their money, but said from what they
could hear that things would soon be set
tled up. There is also, too, a wide dif
ference of opinion as to what effect the
road will have on the business of Madi
son, although a large majority of the
leading citizens thinks it will be benefi
cial. Some, however, affirm that the
road will ruin the retail trade of the
place, by building up competing towns
in the country tributary to it, and that
Madison has not the territory to even
hope to become a wholesale point. In
fact, two prominent firms remarked to
me that they would move to Athens with
the road passing through Madison,for their
ctiy would then be nothingbut an insig
nificant way station. On the other hand,
Col. Johnson, the ex'postmaster, says
that the stopping of the road in Madison
would injure it, but the building
through to Athens would benefit the
place.
Thursday morning Mr. Powell had two
of his fine saddle marcs brought around'
to the hotel, and most considerately turn
ed OTer the best to me. In fact, I had
serious misgivings about my ability to
stand the journey, but the steed that I
bestiodo went so easily that I found it
almost as pleasant as riding in a buggy.
As is known, there are sections of a
road bed graded from Monticello to Mad
ison, and was originally designed to go
on to Griffin. This work was done in
1882 by H. I. Kimball, who tried to
baild it with state aid, but the enterprise
fell through, after considerable money
had been expended. The old track is
now^grown up in bushes and|briars,andthe
sides are washed down. The route,
however, can be easily traced at this
season of the year by a line of blooming
peach trees sprung from seed left by the
hands. The Macon A Covington will
use in all about fourteen miles of this
road, in several sections, the longest be
ing a stretch of eight miles and extend
ing to Madison. Beyond Monticello this
old road-bed has been repaired, by lev
elling on the sides, making some cuts
“ld<
•till deeper and raising embankments.
This work shows that a better grade is
made by the If. A C. road than contem
plated in. the old Griffin, Monticello A
Madison line. No work hss been done
on the eight miles just beyond Madison,
but Mr. Powell tells me that he can
move over it at the rate of half a mile a
day when he gets to work. There are
now at work between Monticello and
Madison, about 180 convicts by Powell A
Davenport. Martin & Porter have 60
free laborers at work, and there is a.
small squad at Monticello. of about 20
hands under Mr. Tollitson. The force is
greatly reduced just now, owing to the
fact that the company has not paid off
promptly, and the contractors are
unwilling to advance moneyto settle with
'heir hands. If Col. Frobell settles on
the 15th as promised, the contractors
will largely increase their forces, and
they say that in eight weeks the track
will be completed to Madison. I talked
with representatives from all the com-
panies, and they assure me that only the
noney stands between them and the
early completion of their contracts.
I cannot exactly tell how much work
• here is yet to do between Monticello
ind Madison, but from the best informa
tion that I can receive I think between
-won and eight miles. It is not very
leavy work, however. I noticed along
he road a good deal of unfinished work,
• ut I think the eight mile estimate Vill
. .elude this. In the town of Monticello
here is a mile of unbroken dirt that Mr.
i'olliison has, and it is pretty rough, too.
Messrs. Powell A Davenport have divid-
•1 their contract. They have one squad
a in pod eight miles from Madison, and
• nother twelve »•.!!'’'? from that point,
vorkingin the dilution of Monticello,
nd completing the work left by
•Vrguson, the contractor who failed. At
resent these convicts are the backbone
the railroad.
After leaving Madison our road led
nroiigh a very fine farming country.
; he laud is generally level for Middle
ieorgia, and in on excellent state of
iltivatioti. There are broad strips of
i tom lands on the creeks, but it is sat-
•ted with water and hut little culti-
• led. I saw no fine old farm houses,
ke Oglethorpe boasts, but many neat
ind comfortable residences, with evi-
‘«*nces around them of comfort and
irosperitv. After leaving \ladison for
everal miles 1 lost sight of the old rail
ed, as it follows a ridge, while the pub
ichighway crosses the country. This
•ne wiU he a comparatively inexpensive
•ne., for it crosses very few water
•nurses, and not even a branch for more
ban forty miles. I do not think a r&ad
vas ever run on a better route, or one
hat could he constructed more econoin-
<*ally,the topography of the country con
sidered. The first place that 1 struck
iew work is near Antioch church, in
Morgan county, about ten miles from
Madison, and on a place owned by Hon.
>**aborn Iteese. And by the way, I am
.iformed that Mr. Kecse is opposed to
he road ami has threatened to injoin it
.gainst passing through his land; but
here is probably some mistake about
hi<, as the grading is nearly finished
.nd no such steps has as yet been taken.
About noon I reached Mr. Powell s
• imp, that is located on Mr. Fred Fos
ter's land. It is by no means an attrac-
ive place. I looked around for some
•vidences of dinner, but saw nothing in
the way of fish, flesh or fowl but two
mnsumptive-looking convicts and a
:uunt, yellow hound,that was licking out
• frying pan which rested on theafiioul-
lering embers of a fire. But Mr. Powell
.roved equal to the emergency. At a
•all of ••Mary!” a dingy negress in
-tripes came from a smoke painted log
•hit. and stood b fore him.
“Now M»r>,’ our generous host re-
m iked, “hurry up and get us something
to • it quick. Have some ham and eggs,
or a f~i**d chicken, or —”
ley ain’t nothing here hut some aigs
an 1 fat bacon and meal," remarked Mary.
-No cow peas?” asked Mr. Powell.
“C .n’t we get some pea cush?”
“De pea* am out and cotton seed meal,
too, sah.”
“Well, get us then what you can, and
mike haste about it!*’
l'lie c.Ktk then proceeded to slice some
fa nd nnci.l bacon and lay it in the fry-
in. an that the hound had been licking,
w ..•uif going through any cleansing
ce --ninny. She then broke a few aged
eg -. and slewed them and the
sli of meat togviher. When this was
dv >he ••luptie i the mess on n - aril
t > *o*d, and I will state that, as a kind of
a q.-it/er, one of the sick convicts h:.d
b • n sitting on the hoard. Mary next
t * »k a nan of in- al from which the
b;.in had m»t been sifted, and mak-
inn lough bak 1 ! . pone of bread
a i I set tin* repast before ns. Gentle
r • »der, you uiay judge that the morning’s
r de had **• net toil iny appetite, when I
t 11 you that I not only gladly partook of
t menu; but of it heartily and en-
j . k ed mv dinner more than 1 have many
a ■ * aliquot The only table cutlery that
w • ?md vas a knife with the blade broke
o I within an inch of the han-Pe and a
prong fqrk. My kind host apolo-
g /••<! for not being able to add what he
c lied pea rush to the bill of fare, and
e {plained that pea cush is a delicious
d th for which bis cainp is famous. It
is made by frying together boiled cow
peas and fat bacon, and an epicure who
on *e partook of it tells me that there is
als • a sprinkling of cotton seed and other
not very choice edibles in the plate that
he got at Mr. Powell’s camp.
There is no stockade at this camp, but
the convicts and confined at night in a
long house, built of pine logs and covered
with split boards. They are chained to-
g ther, and a convict sits up all night in
the room and counts the chains every
twenty minutes to see that none of the
prisoners haveescaped. Outof the large
number of prisoners, both State and
c rnnty, in Mr. Powell’s camp, there was
o ily tbiee or four ailing, and no serious
c lies of sickness. They are attended 1
Dr. Stephens, son of Col. P. M. S’ephem.
of Oglethorpe county, and are made as |
c v.nfertable as inen in thei condition can
b *. Mr. Powell is one of the kindest
hearted men in thu world, and “eats out
o** the same pot” with his convicts. He
k eps a large pack of trained hounds at
b »th camps, and every few nights has
s mie fine fox chases.
But I am digressing from my subject
After dinner we were again on the road.
A ride of 18 miles from Madison brought
me to the thriving little bain’et of Shady
D de, destined to be one of the most im -
porunt points on the new railroad. It is
a beautiful site fora town, with its level
land and groves, and reminds me of
White Plains, in Greene county. We
roJe up to a well-filled store, and found
its proprietor to be Mr. McDowell, a
brother-in-law to Capt. C. G. Talmadge,
of this city. There are three stores at
S lady Dale, and it is surrounded by one
of the finest farming sections in Middle
G orgia. Declining the kind invitation
to -pend the night there, we pushed on a
m le or so further, to the house where
th Messrs. Roberts, engineers of the
rotd, are boarding, and were so fortunate
as to find them at home. Both gentlemen
coisentedto accompany us to Macon,
w.iich was certainly an unexpected pleas
ure as their presence over the line would
S i. o me an opportunity of securing a great
eil of information not otherwise to be
ha i. Mr. L. W. Roberts has had charge
of the line sinco if left Macon, and is
ab!y assisted by bis uncle, Capt. Ben.
Ro ierts. Both are skilled engineers and
rel-oble, genial gentlemen.
There has been much said in regard
te the construction of the Macon A Cov-
ingt *n road—that the grades were steep,
the curves sharp and the road-bed too
narrow. In fact, that it is a cheap piece of
work, “fitted to the ground,"as engineers
expre-s it, and to be successfully oper
ated, it would have to be torn up and re
built. I know nothing aboqt civil engi
ncering, and ray knowledge of a railroad
is worth but little. 1 carefully examined
the work, however, and so far as 1 can
see, the railroad is as straight as an aver
age one, and 1 noticed no unusual grades.
In fa t, it appeara 'o me like a first-class
railroad in every respect Mr. Roberts
tells me that the steepest gride on the
entire line is 60 feet to the mile, and the
corvee are the same ne on the Georgia
and other roads in Hie 8ute._T “
that th6~rood lias' few cuts or
ments over three or four feet high, but
this is owing to the (set that an unusual
ly fine ndge route has been found, and
with only few beaks, it extends from
Macon to Madison. Mr. Roberts says he
will pay the expenses of the best engi
neer to be had, if he can find a better
line than the one the road runs on,
and he can cross the present su vey as
often as he likes. The road-bed is 12
feet wide on embankments, and 14 feet
in cuts. But this is only temporary, for
as fast as the rails are laid a construction
force with a locomotive follows b hind
and completes the work. By this means
the company can move dirt for about
three cents a cubic yard, that would oth
erwise cost them 11 cents. I notice that
this is being done on the completed end
of the line, and I venture the assertion,
that there are few better or prettier tracks
in the State. So far as my knowledge
and observation extqpds, I think the en-
ginoer has done a faithful job of work,
and 1 learn that he has received the
special thanks of Col. Machen and other
officers of the road, who are delighted
with the cheap and at the same time de
sirable route he has found.
A ride of eight miles from Shady Dale
through one of the finest belts of farm
ing land 1 ever saw, landed me at Monti-
cello, the county site of Jasper. I saw
but little original ferest between Madi
son and this point, and I learn that even
the cross-ties must be hauled from below
Macon. The soil is a black red color,
fertile and porus. and you »eein the with
ered corn and cotton stalks signs of its
f rtility. There are large fields of wheat
and oats and these crops look well. I
am delighted with the appearance of both
Morgan and Jasper counties, and was
more impressed than ever with the im
portance of Athens securing this road,
that will bring to us the products of such
a rich country.
This was my first visit to Monticello.
It is a place a little larger than Danicls-
ville, but a much better trading point,
judging from the number of stores and
their stocks of goods. In fact there are
several business houses here that would
do credit to any city. The stocks are
large, first-class and well selected, and
thu merchants seein enterprising and pro-
pressive. I noticed several tine old
residences in the town, but they are gen
erally out of repair and need paint badly.
In fact, as Toon Powell remarked, Monti
cello needs white lead and nails as badly
as it does a railroad. The court house
is a substantial three-story brick build
ing, with the jure rooms on the upper
floor. Monticello has long borne the
reputation of a dangerous place, and I
learn that sixty-nine men have been killed
in fights around the court-house since
tlyj war; three “biting the dust” on one
day. Major Key, a prominent lawyer of
Monticello, tells ine that he has defended
thirty-three parties in this city charged
with murder, with only one conviction,
and he was pardoned by Gov. Bullock.
But so far as my own observation and ex
perience went, 1 never saw more peacahle
or kinder people Ilian those living in Jas
per, and 1 think that the dangerous ele
ment must all have been killed out. Our
part}' had quite a little reception that J
night at the hotel, ai d the room was fill
ed with visitors until bed time. They'
wanted to know all about how the rail-.
road was getting on. 1 learn that proper- I
ty in Monticello is very high, and in de-1
mand, too. The burnt district will he \
built up with nice brick stores. My old
friend Penn runs the Jasper County |
News here, and is assisted by his ladv ’
and bright little daughter. Miss Maud.!
< >n entering Monticello, about a mile from
town, I passed the residence of Mr. A. J.
Talmadge, brother to the late W. A. Tal
madge, of Athens. This gentleman has
one of the nicest farms I have seen
since the war. It is kept as neat as a
garden. Mr. Talmadge is one of Jaspe ’s
leading and most honored citizens. J
The present terminus of the road is
at Round Oak, in Jones county, 14 miles
from Monticello, ami we had to reach it
by 11 o’clock. After a very early break
fast I was a.ain on the road, and passed
through a country apparently even more
fertile than I had traversed the day be
fore. From Monticello the road-bed
is ready for the iron ond cross-ties, and a
prettier line 1 neversaw. Until within
a short distance of Macon its follows a
natural ridge, with not a stream to cross,
and I saw only one embankment exceed
ing four feet. For miles it runs on top
the ground, and the road-bed could
have been turned up with a plow. Mr
Robert showed us one mile of the road
that it cost only fF» to grade, and says
he has several miles that did not exceed
475. Ard the gl ides and curves, too,
are up to the standard. I was no lon
ger surprised at Ferguson,the contractor,
going to the wall. The entire distance is
graded and right of way has been cleared
off. The contractors get from $7 to 410
per acre for this work, and 11 cents a cu
bic yard for grades and fills. When the
dirt can be used for fills there is some
profit in this, but not when it is wasted
or has to be borrowed, as it costs 10 cents
to move it. 1 am convinced that the
Macon A* Covington will be the cheapest-
built first-class railroad ever constructed
in the South, unless it be through the
sands of Florida, and even there the high
price of labor makes up for the differ
ence. And again, 1 never saw a section
that needed a railroad worse, or is better
able to sustain one when built. The lo
cal traffic of the country between Macon
and Athens will alone pay the owners
of the road handsomely.
After leaving Monticello I passed
through a little place with its steam cot- j
ton gin, blacksmith shop, store and three \
or four residences, named Hillsboro.
About a mile from this place was the la
mented Benjamin H. Hill born and rear
ed, and the town is named for his family.
Hillsboro, too, is destined to be a place
. f some importance r.ow, as the road ;
passes directly through it, and a depot
wib be placed there.
About ten o’clock I reached Round
Oak, the present terminus of the railroad.
This place is just over th** line in Jones
county, and boasts a dwelling, a small
store, with the famous round oak in front
of it, from which the place derives its
name, and near at hand, in a pine thicket,
is a neat white church. rsaw no train,
until glancing ahead in a field, ibout 300
yards distant, when tha smoke from a
locomotive was seen ascending
upward. This was the first tangible
evidence I had seen of the existence of
the new railroad for which our people
had been waiting so anxiously, and I
felt like casting up my hat and giving a
rousing cheer for it. I rode as near as I
could to the engine, that I found to be
drawing a construction train laden with
cross-ties and iron, that a gang of hands
were laying at the rate of nearly half a
mile per day. There is no fraud about
this train. Both on the engine and cars
were painted in big letters “Macon &
Covington R, R.,’’ and I never saw better
rolling stock, either. It was bran new,
and the rails being laid are the same size
as those on the other first-class roads in
our state. About a mile of small iron
had been laid below Round Oak, but
hands are now taking it up, to be used
for aide tracks, and substituting larger
bars in its place. It was about a quarter
of a mile from this point where the reg
ular t.*ain stopped, and as 1 had no time
to lose I pressed on there. It was in the
middle of an old field, but I noticed gu
ano and other merchandise piled neartbe
track. Soon I heard a sharp whistle,
and then a handsome Baldwin locomo
tive, drawing two pretty red passenger
coaches and several freight boxes, came
in sight This entire train belonged to
the Macon & Covington road, and it
would be a credit to any line. 1 at once
boarded the cars and went through them.
The train was in charge of Conductor
Whitehead, formerly in the employ of
the Georgia road, and a most pleasant
young gentleman, too. He was uniform
ed, as also other attaches of the train.
There was also an express messenger,
and the young news butcher with the
daily papers and stale bananas, hard
apples and oranges about the size of big
glass marbles. I
iy’s news from Athens. Truly this
great paper has wonderful enterprise!
This entire train looked like it had
just been rolled from the shops. The
coaches are the usual size, the seats were
lined with red plush, and the trimmings
of the car of oak. There was no partition
in the first-class coach, but from one end
of the stnoKer a compartment had been
cut off for the express or baggage. !h
one end of the coach there is a lavatory,
with soap, towels, brush, etc. There
are also air brakes to the train, and the
latest thing in the way of heating stoves.
In fact, all the latest inventions and im
provements in railroading are found in
these cars. The engines are all from the
Baldwin factory, and are coal burners. The
coaches were made in Philadelphia.
Everything is first-class in every re
spect.
This road now owns and has on its
track four first-class locomotives and has
ordered two more, *nd also four passen
ger coaches, and boxes and fiats enough
to operate the line. Besides, it has a
construction train with boxes fitted up
lor sleeping and cooking apartments for
the hands. This train is kept shifted off
near where they are at work. The road
is now completed and in operation from
a dial
did i)VR^mmsBus8.
THE PROHIB1TI0N1ST8 CARRY THE
DAY MONDAY.
IS THE QUESTION AGITATING THE
MINDS OF THE PEOPLE.
Round Oak to Macon, a distance of 31
miles. The total distance by. survey
from Macon to Athens is 10t> miles. Of
this more than one half Is now ready for
the iron, and steel rails are on hand
to equip 53 miles of the road. The rest
will be ordered as fast as the tract is
ready. Cross ties are now being bought
and delivered on the roadside above Mon
ticello.
At Macon there is an iron bridge over
the river, belonging solely to the road,
that cost nearly $40,0U0. Now, with
these facts known, 1 fe?l no longer the
slightest doubt but that the road will be
built and completed through to Athens,
at an early day. It has gone to far
to stop, for even if the present company
could not finish it, other capitalists
would step in and do so. The last shadow
of doubt about the road coming to Athens
tt>at ever rested on iny mind has been
removed, and any one that will take the
same trip that I did, and investigate the
matter as 1 have done, will agree with
But to return to my ride. There is no
turn-table put down as. yet, so the train
had to return backwards to Macon.
With Mr. Robert I took a seat on the
rear platform, where 1 could carefully
examine the track. We returned I sup
pose at an average speed of something
over 15 miles per hour, although much
faster time has been made. 1 never was
on a road that moves easier. It is like
gliding over glass. The car makes but
little noise, and there is neither jars nor
jolting. It is certainly amodel railroad,
so far as I can judge both in grading
and equipment. The first stopping
point we reached after leaving Round
Oak is a new town named Wayside, that
has sprung up on a ridge in an old field.
Several houses are already going up here,
ard shade trees set out along the public
streets. It is here the fearful cyclone
passed several years ago, and you can
still see the effects from the car win
dow.
The next point was Clinton station,
something over a mile distant from the
county seat of Jones. The depot is on
the land of Congressman James Blount.
Morton is another thriving little place on
the railroad, so new aml^white and bright
as to show it is just from the hands of
the architect. A steam gin and other
improvements will be put up here.
Twelve miles this side of Macon < ur
road crosses the Georgia on a bridge
twenty feet above the track, as also over
the Central road. It is a down grade
until the old track of the Georgia road
is reached, which the Macon and Coving
ton has purchased, since that line now
enters Macon on the Central track.
On both sides of the track are piled
up cros**-ties by the thousand, ready to
be carried up the road as needed. These
ties are gotten in the piney woods of
Southwest Georgia, as the country be
tween Macon and Madison does not fur
nish sufficient timber to equip the road.
1 was shown a heap of ashes wh°re a
great pile of cross-ties had been lately
burned, but as the road keeps them in
sured, it is no loss except to the insu
rance company.
At last the new iron bridge across the
Ocmulgee is reached, which is one of the
best in the state, and cost about $40,000.
This structure is m keeping with all the
works and equipments of the Macon and
Covington road, all of which are first*
class in every respect The road after
crossing the river passes through tfie
fair grounds, and halts at a hastily con
structed depot and -et of shops on same
land given the company by the city of
M.icon, and some 500 yards from the
Lanier House. This road is now nego
tiating with the East Tennessee, Virginia
ana Georgia to unite and build a fine
depot near the heart of the city. Here
we noticed other engines and cars belong
ing to the M. and C^ ready to take
road as soon as the track is laid to Mad-
son.
It was 1 o’clock when I reached Ma
con, and after dinner walked into the
office of the Covington & Macon road.
A nicely furnished suite of rooms on one
of the most prominent streets in the
city are secured for this purpose, and
here is transacted all the business of the
road. I met Mr. A. C. Palmer, secre 1
tary and treasurer of the r jad, and found
him a pleasant gentleman. He gave me
all the information 1 asked in regard to
the workings of his road, and says there
is not the slightest doubt about its being
completed through to Athens in time to
carry off the next cotton crop. Mr.
Palmer says that the troubles of the
road are all settled, and after the 15th
they wifi get to work in earnest
All doubts I ever had about the com
pletion of the Macon A Covington road
to Athens have vanish* d, and from what
1 have seen, I Relieve that^iy next fall,
at furthest, the trains will be running
into our city. To-day (15th) is the time
announced for settling with the contrac
tors, and if this is done, there is nothing
in the way of pushing forward the work.
All the hands necessary can be had if
they are paid off promptly. T. L. G.
marbles. I was surprised and grat-
BLOODY FIGHT.
Th. Colored .Hen Clinch WithSeri-
ou« He.ulla Ie»terdajr Afternoon. |
Yesterduy afternoon about dark a no-
lent and bloody fight occurred in front
of Mr. J. B. Reaves' rtable between two
able bodied coloied men—Hoyt Dam-
mens and Tom Payne. Hammons stays at
the furniture store of Edge & Dorsey and
Payne at O’Farrell & Hodgson’s. Roth
were powerful fellows, and the punish
ment was severe. Blow followed blow,
and bite was exchanged for bite. Fi
nally they were parted, and it was found
that "ftim Payne had been severely cut
between the ribs in the left side. He waa
carried up town to be examined by a
physician.
As Old Citizen GoIie.—Mr. Thomas
Molines Wilso , died on the evening of
March 14th at the famity residence on
the Danielsville road three miles from our
city—about 75 years of age. For many
years before the war he waa a prominent
merchant of our city. Born and reared
within in ten miles of Athena, most of
his life was spent in Clarke County.
The large and prosperous buisness ha
was engaged in before the war having
peen arrested by the state of the country
—the later yean ol hia life were span tin
farming. He was bn- : 'y engaged in pre
paring for the crop ol the present year,
when a week ago he waa arrested by hia
last sickness. A good man—a good citi
zen—a ripe Christain gentleman has
crossed the rirer. His funeral will lake
place to-day at half past ten o'clock at
the Presbyterian Church, of which
church ho had for many yean been a
member and elder. Let a full attend
ance on the occasion by our people ex
press their appreciation of the character
of the venerable citizen who has passed
withia the vail.
■elsnu from ail the Pnctacta.
LlfStr Vetcd Out ol the County..
What the People oar Ahoat tho
' Election—A Quiet Day and a Pall
Veto.
... Jackson county has gone dry. The in
terior baa offset the railroad precincts,
and it is pretty certain that liquor has
been effectually voted out. The prohibi
tionists are jubilant. So far as received,
the vote shows a majority of somewhere
between 150 and 200. Below will be
found the figures.
JimiMZ'S “VOTE.
Jeffessom, March 15.—[Special.]—
netly. The
The election passed off quietly,
majority for prohibition is 144 at this pre
cinct. It is estimated here that the coun
ty will go dry by 200 majority.
BAEHOKT OROVE.
HaoMowr Gsove, March 15.—[Special]
VaE-tfc^ SalvM&i^Aminatthe Sal*
90. ' This result ;JSSr »' great surprise
to all.
NICHOLSON IS WET.
Nicholson, March 14,—[Special.]—
At the election yesterday in this county.
Jackson, “For the-Sale,” in this precinct,
receired 87; “Against the Sale,” 58.
Majority for the sale, 29.
WILSON’S DISTRICT DRT.
Maysville, March 15.— [Special.]—
Wilson’s District goes dry by 62 majori
ty. The vote is 21 to 83.
CLAIIKSBORO IS DRT.
Clarkesboro, March 14.—[Special.]—
Always considered the hardest district in
the county, CLrksboro surprised every
one by giving prohibition 7 majority.
CUANDLER IS DRT.
Chandler's was considered a stronghold
of the antis, but gave prohicition 22 ma
jority.
THE NEWS IN ATHENS.
Our people manifested considerable
interest in the contest in Jacksoun coun
ty, and the Banner-Watchman otfice
was visited all duringthe day by gnxious
inquirers for news. The sentiment
among our people is divided ss to the ef
fect the victory will have upon the city
of Athens am^&Larke courA..,abe warm
advocates «r?«5?V that it
will enable Athens to maintain the solid
ity of her position, and the fact that the
neighboring counties are now dry will
enable true and absolute prohibition to
be tested. The prohibitionists hore say
that owing to the proximityof bar-rooms
in neighboring counties the people
have been enabled to supply themselves
with liquor, and that while a great im
provement has been manifested in the
public morals of the people in this re
spect, the change (rom now on is going
to be more perceptible and more notice
able.
The anti-prohibitionists here declare'
that the Jackson county victory has
sounded liquoi’s release in Clarke. That
at the next election upon the matter, the
city and county will vote whisky back.
This startling statement wss requested
to be farther explained, and our inform
it is and
will be something like
this: One of the strangest reason why
prohibition was enabled to carry Clarke
was the way some men looked at the
matter. Mam men voted to oust whis
ky who woold never have done so had
thev thought the surrounding counties
would go dry. As long as they could
get whisky in Oconee orj Jackson they
were more than willing to get rid of it
heie. But now that these counties have
joined the dry realm, these people will
be almost totally deprived of the oppor
tunities to procure whisky.
A remarkable fact came under the
Banner’s observation, as it endeavored
to find out the drift of public opinion.
The prohibitionists and anti’s were both
happy because Jackson had gone dry—
the one because it would make Atheds
really and absolutely prohibition, the
other for exactly the same reason. But
the anti-prohibitionists think that an ab
solute prohibition in the city is the best
way to kill the whole fanaticism, as they
call it.
Whatever happens, it is certain another
county has gone dry.
DOWN THE ROAD-
Items Picked up Along the Athens
Branch—The New Knllroade and
Their Prospeces—Oiving Away Li
quor—Harry Hill Gets a Consulate.
Union Point, March 15.—In coming
down the branch this morning Mr. Geo.
T. Johnson got on the train this side of
Winterville, end trill go through the
country from Crtwford,to Point Peter
and Danbnrg, in oilmJ oovnty, to exam
ine the countiy through whioh the Au-
f usta & Chattanooga road will pass—if
uilL Mr. Johnson is a leading mer
chant of Danielsville, and says there is
no doubt about the road being completed,
and offers to wager that the cars will bo
running to his town inside of two years.
He further tells me that thirteen busi
ness men of Augusta, each worth over
$100,000, have agreed to loan their indi
vidual credit to the road to the extent of
$1,200,000, to purchase steel rails to
equip 60 miles of the line, after which
the road can be mortgaged to secuie
money to equip it. Mr. Johnson is en
thusiastically sanguine, and is also anx
ious for the G, C. & N. road to pass
through Danielsville.
As I was pasting down Broad street
this morning I met Msjor Morrison, chief
engineer of the Georgia, Carolina A
Northern road, and he informed me that
he will leave at once for m trip over the
Caroline end of the road, where the engi
neers are now locating the route, and ne
wants at once to let out the contract and
begin grading. Ths Major also tells me
that he will put another engi
neering corps in the field between
Athens ana Atlanta, aa there is
a great defimlyofic to be done, and he
wants to get ont line located as soon as
possible. Be lays this will not take ex
ceeding three months. Major Morrison
■ays he is glad to see that the Banner-
Watchman is arousing Elberton to the
importance of getting to work, for while
he is anxious ’ to take in that town, he
will notdoao unless itia to the interest
of the railroad, and they will have no
time to dilly dally in selecting a route. I
hope that my Elberton friends will see
the importance of taking steps at once to
capture this road, for it would be a se-
vere blow both'to that town and Athena
for the G, C. & N. to be diverted from
that route; even for a short distance.
On the train this morning I met Mr.
Dunwoody, of Savannah, a gentleman in
the internal revenue service. He tells
me that itia a dear violation of the law
for a man to keep liquor in hia store to
give away to hia custom era, as the courts
held it is an indirect sale of the same.
There are said to lie several parties in
Athens who will be liable to prosecution
under this head if cases are made against
Harry Hill got on at Crawford, and
r of friends has been hunting
with a party
and fishing on his farm in Oglethorpe!
Mr. Hill informs me that the President
has tendered him; the appointment of a
consulSfiiy'otevhb' island of Samoa, in tho
Pacific Ocean, add he will probably ac
cept * T.L.G.
Death or Mrs. Massy.—Mrs. Geoige
Mabry died yesterday morning at hor
residence in this oity, where she had
long been a sufferer. Her ailment was
bronchial trouble, and she leaves a hus
band and several children-. Mrs. Ma
bry came to Athena a few months ago
front Jefferson. Wa sympathise deeply
with the bereaved family. Mr. Mabry is
a worthy and industrious man and was
formerly one of the Bammer-Watchmam
compositors.
Tbe mayor’s Decision Called In
Question— 1 The Opinion of the Peo
ple—DThat the Sides Claim—Why
tbe mayor So Held.
Monday afternoon his honor, Mayor
Hodgson had before him several parties
charged with a violation of tbe prohibi
tion laws. The cases were disposed of
by his Honor, who fined one party, and
permitted another who claims to have
been guilty of precisely the same of
fense to go free. The action of the court
in this matter has excited considerable
comment among our people and since the
sentence of the court, the matter has
been variously discussed. Tbe matt> r
is purely a legal question and the attor
neys differ greatly as to the construction
of the municipal ordinances.
The esse is as follows: s man signifies
his intention of going to Fowler’s, and a
friend knowing his intention gives him
some money and asks him to bring him s
quart of whisky. The money is taken,
the whisky purchased st Fowlei’s paid
for there, and is brought back to the
friend in the city.
The party who followed ont this pro
gramme was convicted of violating the
ordinance, and was fined $50. The party
fined did this more than once, and the
court held that'hewasin the business:
but one man guilty of precisely the same
offense, but having committed it but
once was a lowed to go free.
The whole question turns upon the
word “furnish” in the ordinance. Did
the party who received the money from
the friend, and with it purchased the
whisky at Fowler’s furnish whisky to
his friend? If he did, why was he pun
ished, and the man who did precisely
the same tiling allowed to go free? Ifllie
action of the mau bringing the liquor to
his friend is construed as furnishing him
with whisky,why is not the express com
pany and railroads guilty of the same
misdemeanor, when they deliver whisky
to consignees in prohibit on towns?
These are the points made against the
Mayor’s decision. The lawyers hold
that when a reasonable construction can
be placed upon a municipal ordinance
that it is not legal to put an extreme
construction upon it. They claim the
sentence of tbe court is based upon an
extreme construction, and that the high
er courts will so hold. The matter, as
we have said, is a purely legal question,
but it it is one that affects a good main
people, and the decision will be looked
to with interest
It is understood that the Mayor acted
entirely upon the advice of the city at
torney, Mr. Cobb. Mr. Cobb is a lawyer
of unusual ability, and bis opinion is val
liable, for it is always made up after
careful investigation and study. In this
matter some think he is wrong, and
while perhaps it may be officious to take
issue with a trained mind upon so impor
tant a matter as the construction of a
statute, they claim that the people will
uphold the views they advance.
Now, the matter, they say, is simply
this: If the man who took his friend's
money to Fowler's and bought and paid
far the whisky there is guilty of furnish
ing whisky, in the sense that Mr. Cobb
and the Mayor hold, why, then, every
time the Southern Express Company de
livers at a man's door in this city a case
of beer or a demijohn of whisky, the
company furnishes liquors to the con
signee in the same sense and way that
the Mayor condemned. They go further,
and say that if the offense of the gentle
man who was fined by His Honor was an
illegal one, then every gentleman who
places before a guest in his house a glass
of wine or bottle of whisky, is aa guilty
of violating the ordinance as the man who
was fined by His Honor. But the Mayor
holds this, no doubt, an extreme con
struction.
It is justice to His Honor that an addi
tional statement should be made. Aa
we learn, His Honor made a distinction
between the two cases because the evi
dence tended to show that one man was
regularly doing this, and the other was
guilty of a single violation. The attor
neys and the people whom the Bannrr-
Watciihan has talked with, rather look
upon this as irrelevant to the point at
issue. If the evidence showed that both
men had furnished whisky, it is held
that both should have been fined. If any
difference should have been made, it
should have been in the amounts of the
fines imposed.
The case has been appealed, and an
other strong fight will be made over it.
The people generally believe the Mayor
will be reversed, and the fine remitted,
but the city’s attorney betrays no want
of confidence, and seems perfectly satis
fied that the matter will stand.
One gentleman remarked to the Ban-
neb-Watchman that the case was so
clear to his mind, that he would wager a
thousand dollars that the decision of the
Mayor would not stand.
Time rolls ever on; se does the Wheel
of Fortune, under the management of the
Louisiana State Lottery at New Orleans,
La., with the supervision of Gen’ls G T
Beauregard, of La, and J ubal A Early,
of Va, who (as usual) had the entire con
duct of the 202d Grand Monthly Draw
ing on Tuesday, (always Tuesday) Feb
8th, 1887. The amount scattered was
$535,000 The tickets were $10 each.
No 73/.I87 drew the First Capital of $150,-
000. It was sold in tenths at $1 each—
one was won by a “combine” of twenty-
two car drivers of tho Lombard and
South St Railway, of l’hiladelphia, and
was paid by Adams Express Co; one
was paid to Joseph Strang, of Aubnrn,
N Y; one to Marston A Jordan, No 92
Commercial St, Poitland, Me; one to
Fred Tegtmeier, Cleveland, 0; one to
Gattraan A Co, Aberdeen, Miss; one to
Harmon Netterfield, of Kingsland, Wells
Co, Ind, paide through First Nat’l Bank
of Fort Wavne, Ind; one to Dr J A
Tigner, B F Clark and Miss Abbie Webb,
of Rome, Ga; two-tenths were collected
by Wells, Fargo A Co’s Bank, of San
1 ran cisco. Cal; the remainder elsewhere.
No 45,151 drew Second Prize of $50,(XX)
—also sold in tenths at $1 each; two were
collected by Jas W D Stokes, De
troit, Mich; two were collected by Thos
Alexander, of Washington City; one
was collected by the German Bank of
Memphis, Tenn; one by E. Rosenheim,
No. 80 Beale street, Memphis, Tenn; one
was collected by the First National Bank
of San Francisoo, Cal; one by the Wells,
Fargo A Go’s Bank of Haq Francisco,
etc. The third prize of $20,000 went to
No 14,105—-sold in tedths at $1 each,
one went to C H Perrow, Morristown,
Tenn; one to W E Barrett, St Johns -
burp, Vt; on* to Geo Schilly, 7, 9 and 11
Court street, Memphis, Tenn; one to D.
N Vance, cashier of National Bank of
Carrollton, Ky: ono to Felix Clarere,
Los Angeles, Cal; one to M Hollister,
Wayland, Polk county. Neb; one to the
Bank of California, etc. The two fourth
prizes of $10,000 went to No 86.267—
one half sold at $5 to G Barthol, New
York; and No 99,470—sold in fractional
parts to parties in Galveston and San An
gelo, Texas, Chicago, Philadelphia, San
ford, F|a^ Carrollton, Ky, etc. Tbe
204th grand monthly drawing will take
place on Tuesday, April 12th, sod any
information desired can be had on appli
cation to M. A. Dauphin, New Orleans,
La. Do not let this opportunity slip
this time.
Talhags’s Sermon.—The sermons of
Dr. Talmage which the BaXID has
commenced publishing are attracting
much attention in the city and country.
Qur daily and weekly of Tuezday were
widely read, and the general opinion is
that they are matchless pieces of pulpit
eloquence.
Found His Dog.—Mr. E. K. Lumpkin
has found his beautiful newfoundland
which was lost last week. It is a hand
some and valuable member of the house
hold and the yonng folks were delighted
to sea it return.
YESTERDAY’S NEWS FROM THE TOWNS
AROUND US.
WIXTEBVILLE NEWS.
Local Hews and Interesting Personala-
Ballroad Hewa-Meetlng of the Literary
Clnb.
Winterville, March 16.—[Special.]—
Some of our boys attended tho show,
“Richelieu," and report a nice time, not
from the show, however.
Mr. Tom Bay, a yonng man from Ogle
thorpe, is visiting the family of Mr. and
Mrs. Harris.
A large and intelligent attendance is
expected on Sunday next at the dedica
tion of the new Baptist church at this
place. Services will be conducted by
the ltov. Mr. Gibson, of Crawford and Dr.
Campbell, of Athena.
Mr. Jas Hutcheson made another visit
to Watkinsville on Saturday and Sunday
last. Some attraction, Eh!
A large and intellectual concourse at-
tended services on Sunday last to listen
to that excellent divine, Rev. W. P.
Rivers.
Luther Dozier, a student of the Uni
versity, and Jim Dozier, of the Classic
City, spent Sunday in our ville. Come
again.
Much interest is being felt by our cit
izens in the location of the line of G. C.
A N.R. R., they being very anxious for
it to pass through or very near town. It
would be of great benefit to the commer
cial interest of the town, and a good sub
scription might be secured to induce its
passage through the place.
Mr. James Johnson is having his house
painted. Mr. J. is a model farmer, and
has ideas and ways of his own, concern
ing his business.
The animal cara of De’Iaven's circus
attracted the attention of the small toys
and darkies on its passage through town
Sunday afternoon.
It is a fixture, and will no longer agi
tate the public mind. The starling point
and terminal of the G. C. A N. road will
be in our suburbs, as the surveying
corps reported bv your correspondent a
few days since, proved to be Mr. John
Jewell, of Crawford, with his instrument,
terracing lands.
Cur literary club met on last Friday
night at the residence of Mr. J, T. l‘it-
tard. There was a large attendance of
members and visitors. We would be glad
to give your readers the foil programme
and in justice to all those whose names
appeared on the programme, 1 fear that I
am unable, in this brief missive, to do
do justice to those who so ably executed
their parts. No town can furnish better
music, and no people more cultivated lit
erary talent than our village. The next
meeting will be held at the residence of
Miss Dora Myers.
Winterville, March 16.—[Special.]—
The weather is now most delightful, and
the King of day shedding its luminous
rays in brightest splendor.
The measles arc raging among the peo
ple ofthe Free State, irrespective of race,
labor, or previous condition of servitude.
Miss Sallie Christain, the belle of Rail
Road St., is visiting relatives down in
Oglethorpe.
Mr. W. W. Hood was in town on Mon-
day, selling a patent adjustable hoe
which with all its appendages seemed to
be a perfect combination for garden and
farm work.
Mr. Thomas Moor made a flying visit
to your town on Monday. Mr. Tom is
briiofull of business energy, and a more
worthy man does not live.
Hon. J. M. Smith is hauling hia cotton
seed oil to the depot, from whence he
will ship to New York. Mr. Smith is
manufacturing his own guana, and sup
plying many farmers in his section,
Mr. S. C. Waggoner, bas the largest
garden of anybody in the county; he is
having it very closely fenced.for the pur
pose of planting oysters, he says it is no
easy matter to keep the t.nngs from
crawling out.
Messrs Dr. Carter and J. T, Pittard,
went down in Madison to-day on the
plantation of Mr David Waggoners for
mammoth squirrel hunt. They antici
pate a jolly time.
Mr. Geo. Nelson, who has been quite
sick for some time, we are glad to see on
the street again.
Mr. Deadrick Winter, will read before
the next meeting of our literary club a
manual of his own productiou, which
will doubtless throw some light and in
telligence on those mysterious phenome
na of nature—earthquakes and their
VNION POINT NEWS.
Union Point. March 15.—[Special.]—
Hon. H. H. Carlton, our congressional
representative, spent Saturday among
friends here.
Mrs. J. A. Jewell and daughter, of
Crawford, have been visiting Mrs. Joe
Barnes for several days.
Uncle Jack Mitchell is the Nimrod of
this section, and spends much of his
time booting and fishing. He is 86 years
old, and brought in two large goblers
last week, aggregating 46 pounds.
Mrs. Fox, Mrs. Johns and her sons,
of Chicago, III., spent a couple of days
at the hotel here last week, and are now
up in Oglethorpe. They are travellers
for health and pleasure. They will re
turn here in a few days and perhaps
spend the summer.
The dedication services here Sunday
were all that the friends of the church
could desire. The day was fair and
bright, the congregation large, and the
preacher. Dr. Hopkins, fully met the ex
pectations of all. The pulpit was hand
somely decorated, and the mosic, with
Mr. Cheatham at the organ was very fine.
The Doctor preached again at to a full
house.
Mr.Chas. W. Harris and hia sister,
Mrs Kimball, of Jug Tavern, passed here
yesterday for Hancock county, in answer
a telegram stating tbat their father waa
seriously hurt.
Mrs. Dr. Gatchell, of Atlanta, and her
sister, Miss Sallie Hill, of Oglethorpe
county two of the most charming ladies
we have met in a long time, were in this
village yesterday.
CRAWFORD NOTES.
Crawford, March 14.—[Special.]—Dr.
George Little has sold his interests in
Pccstar, A la., to Dr. Wood Arnold, and
returned home. We suspect that George
made a good sale.
J. A. Roland, R. A. McMahan and J. P.
Armistead are in Atlanta on business.
Judge Lumpkin and Judge Hines have
swapped eourts this week. Judge Lump
kin will preside in Sandersville, and
Judge Hines in Elberton.
Miss Taylor lost a pair of diamond
bracelets yesterday on the slow train, the
property of Mrs. B. P. Hill, valued at
$1,500.
R. P. and W, O. Tucker out hunting
Saturday mornine killed two large
hawks, one of them measured four feet
10 inches from tip to tip.
A man with a combination hoe exhib
ited here Saturday. Dave Arnold bought
it. It is a good thing.
If Athena is anxious for a city dock,
just ask your ordinary for it, and if he
refuses make application to the commis
sioners of Ogtethorpe county and you
will stand a good chance to get it.
Jim Heckle has the only crazy calf
wa ever saw. It has not eaten nordrank
ivthing in five days.
Itichu'd Rowe died yesterdaytmoming
in Lexingto with consumption.
The temporary survey oftheG.C. A
N. railroad crosses Broad River at the
mouth of Cloud’s Creek, about half a
mil# below Watson’s mill, sad runs
down tho river on the north aide, cross-
the A. AC. road on the Madison
> of the river at the mouth of Beav-
erdam Creek, running down the river to
Anderson A Upson’s mill. If the line is
permanently located it will prove a bo
nanza for that firm, aa they own one of
the finest water powers in the South.
We hade big Irost this morning, and
fear the fruit crop ia injured.
Frank Howard is still in Birmingham
looking after his reel estate, and it is ru
mored here this morning that he has
been offered three hundred thousand
dollars for his entire possessions there.
George T. Johnson and Rich Kinnebrcw
of Dsnielsville,psssed through here yes
terday on route fbr Elberton.
Rich Rowe was buried in Lexington
yesterday. Dr.Gibson officiated at the fu
neral ceremonies.
Messrs. Roland, Armistead and McMa
han returned from a visit to Atlanta last
night.
It is not fcvery one that says I want to
buy gnano and provisions that gets them,
as we notice some wagons go home
empty.
Lands are advancing in price along the
line of the G., C. A N. railroad.
HABHON Y GROVE.
HarmonyGrove, March 14.—[Special.]
Dr. E. F. Adair has returned from Dan
ielsville.
llev. H. F. Hoyt preached two excel
lent sermons yesterday at the Presbyte
rian church at this place.
Mr. John Little, one of Franklin coun
ty’s most substantial citizens, died Sat
urday night from a congestive chill.
Mr. Tyre Duncan, of our town, left for
the Gate City this morning on a business
trip. He will return to-morrow n : ght.
The election on prohibition is now go
ing on at.this place. Quite a good crowd
is in town this morning, and the election
here promises to be lively.
J ustice court is in session here now,
W.J. Gober, J. P. and W. M. Jordon,
presiding. Several jury cases are to be
tried, and a lively time is anticipated.
Very few visiting attarnevs here, but
several will be here later. "
Harmony Grove, March 15.—[Special.]
Mr. 11. 11. Hale, one of Maysville’s most
prosperous young merchants, was in the
Grove yesterday on business.
The young ladies and gentlemen of our
town will give a phantom party next
Thursday night, at the residence of Mr.
and Mrs. H. O. Williford. A committee
has been appointed to invite the young
gentlemen and ladies of Maysville to at
tend, and quite a large number are ex
pected. Tbe phantom party certainly
promises te be a big success, and every
one is anticipating a delightful time.
Harmony Grovz, March 16.—[Special. ]
—Col. J. L. Asburyand It. S. Medlin, ol
Jefferson, were in the Grove a short time
yesterday.
All of our young people are anticipat
ing delightful time at the phantom party
to-morrow night. Quite a crowd will be
present.
Justice's Court adjourned yesteaday
evening late, after having disposed of an
enormous amount of litigation. Several
jury cases have been tried at this term,
ai d court and bar have had a lively time,
indeed. Besides our local bar the fol-
lowisg visiting attorneys have been in at
tendance: Cols. J. M. Merrit, of Mays
ville, J. L. Asbury of Jefferson and J.
M. Towery, of Gainesville.
Last Monday prohibition achieved a
most glorious victory in our grand old
caunty of Jackson. The returns were
consolidated yesterday and theresultdc-
clared to be 284 majority in favor of
prohibition. Jefferson and Maysville
both voted the dry ticket by a big major
ity. In Miller's District not a single bal
lot was cast for sale. Three cheers and
a tiger, say we for the banner county of
the Empire State!
HO.HER HAPPENINGS.
Homer, March 14.—[Special.]—Or-
dinary Hill has bought three dozen
chairs for the use of the court house.
He is also having the floors carpeted.
The good people of our town are taking
an active interest in the Union Sunday
School.
Banks is a dry county, and it has been
a long time since <ve hare seen a drunk
man on our streets.
The health of our community is very
good.
Homfb, March 15.—[Special.]—Miss
Carrie Mitchell, who has been spending
sometime with Mrs. Dr. A. H, Stapler, left
oar city for her home in Anderson, S. C.
Miss Carrie ia a perfect beauty, and she
leaves many to regret her departure.
Sociable at Judge T. F. Hills on last
Saturday night in honor to Miss Mitchell.
W. B. Mason is receivings fine lot of
spring goods.
The Secretary of Union Sunday School
has 73 names enrolled as scholars, and
expects to have lUUbefor ten days.
Rev. Sam Cartledge preached a very
interesting sermon at the Presbyterian
Church on last Sunday. A very large
crowd in attendance.
We hear of a mad dog roaming over
the upper portion of this county. Our
citizens should look after such a fero
cious animal before serious damage is
done.
Homer, March 16.—[Special.]—Mrs.
Julia I*. Sheridan, of Atlanta, is visiting
her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fagans, of our
town.
Ordinary Hill is having the public
roads of this county all posted, which
will be quite an advantage to the trav
eling public.
Prof. Ledbetter was with us on last
Sunday.
The justice of tho peace was forced
to fine one of our attorneys $5 for con
tempt of court on last Saturday.
OCONEE COUNTY.
Watxinsville, March 14.—[Special.]
Miss Minnie Middlebrooks is in our
village visiting her aunt, Mis. Overby.
Miss Fannie Murray has returned
home, after a pleasant visit to friends in
Winterville.
The mumps and measles have been re-
ported so much until it has become mo
notonous, but it is an evident fact that
they are yet raging over the county.
Uncle Calvin Johnson is yet on the
sick list, and not able to stir beyond his
room.
Mr. Evans, a tobacconist of North
Carolina, passed through town this morn
ing drumming a fine tobacco.
Miss Furlow Anderson is spending a
few days with her sister, Mrs. C. H.
Ashford.
Dr. Richardson is preaching some
plain, practical sermons to the people of
Watkinsville.
James Watson has about fifteen thou
sand brick cleaned off, and they are now
ready for the market.
Watkinsville March 16—[Special.]—
T. M. Frodrill will give the young people
a dance at his house to-night.
Dr. Hester of Salem, was in town yes
terday. He drove a new buggy from
Langford's shop, Bed is a good workman
and sends off some good work.
Jim and Steward Davis, left for Bir
mingham Sunday night. Jim was with
Be 1 Langford working out a fine.
Rev. C. P. Marchman was riding with
J. T. Anderson last Sunday evening,
leading a horse behind the buggy; when
they drove up, a couple sitting on the
wayside courting, caused both horses to
take fright, the preacher’s horse jerked
loose and ran at a fast speed down the road,
the other dashed around and came near
turning tbe buggy over before he could
be stopped. It seems that courting
frightens horses as well as the girls.
ELBERTON NEWS.
Elberton, March 15.—[Special.]
Yesterday morning the Rev. H. D. I).
Stratton was in the midst of a most inter
esting ordination sermon, the occasion
being tha ordination of Mr. W. M. Har
ris to the ministry, at the Baptist church,
a great hue and ory was raised by per
sons raining by the church, and the con
gregation was considerably excited by
the information that a mad dog was on
the streets. After the dog pissed the
church several gun shots were beird,
and the dog was killed. The dog was
unquestionably mad, and two other dogs
that he bit were killed. No person was
bitten.
The superior court is in session, Judge
Hines, of the Washington circuit, presid
ing.
The visiting lawyers at court are
Messrs. Geo. D. Thomas, of Athens, and
M P Reese, F H Colley, of Washington,
and I C Vanduxer and A G McCurry. of
Hartwell.
Jefferso, March 13.—[Special.]—[
have liex-d the llev. Mr. Lowry's sermon
at the Methodist church on yesterday
highly complimented by all. and his ar
gument on prohibition was unanswera
ble. Sermons were also preached m
different parts of the county l.y other
ministers. We a'.I feel jubilant over our
victory.
Key- H D D Straton returned th : s
morning to Atlanta, having made a most
charming impression upon those who
heard him and upon' those who met
him.
Tha many friends of Hon F H Colley
zre delighted to see his health so much
imp.oved.
Thei
— impreaaioa drevails that the pres-
enreourt will have light work.
0ASIBL8TILLG KOTKil.
DAWno-STiLLE, March 15.—[Speci;ti.]—
Col. Will Stark, who was admitted to
the bar hero last week has moved to Har-*
Gy
-ellie
her home in Nicholson. .
_ Miss Bessie Johnson has gone on a
visit of several weeks to her sister at
Genoa.
The social club had a splendid enter
tainment at Dr. Daniel’s Friday night.
Dr. Adaia, of Harmony Grove, and the
handsome stenographer, Mr. Richardson,
of Dalton, were with us during court.
Gardeners and farmers are making
much of the fine wenther.
Building lots in Danielsville command
exorbitant prices.
Motions for new trial art 1 now pending
inlho following cases tried here last
week, viz: J. II. W liite, administrator,
Ac., vs. Louis Hopkins, ejectment; the
Stato vs. Toombs Brjant, mu-dcr: the
State vs. Tish Kilgore, arson.
HIGH MIO.tLS ->l: W.N.
High Shoals, March Ifi — [Special.]—
Mr. Smith, of Princeton Factory and
Miss S. J. Swafford, of this place, were
married last night, Rev. Mr. Morris oili-
ciating.
Pres. Hinton, en route to Boston, dined
on last Wednesday, with .Messrs. ILK.
Reaves and Homer Nicholson and their
wives, at Wellington Hotel. New York
Mr. George Dale is soon to he the pos
sessor of a large fortune. This gord luck
comes to him by a death of a brother of
his in Texas.
Mrs. Col. Boynton,of Gritlin. is spend-
ing some time at “(’asulon, " her old home
at this place.
Prof. Moore is teaching a second class
in music at the Metl odist church.
Joe Medlin left Saturday for Green
ville, S. C., where he will make his fu
ture home.
We arc sorry to note the continued
feebleness of Mrs. Haltaway.
Rev. T. J. Swanson preached an ex
cellent sermon in the Baptist church on
Sunday last.
SAD DEATHS.
OrEOLA, March 16.—[Special.] The
death of two children of Mr. I). It. Mc
Leroy has caused ntnch sorrow here
Robert was six years old and Mo.iroe ten.
They died within a few hours of each
other of lung troubles, complicated from
severe attacks of measles. I I,e little
daughter is also at the point of death.
Mr. McLeroy is a nephew of F. M, Mc
Leroy, of Clarke county.
HIAYSVILI.E HATTERS.
Maysville, March 16.—[Special.]—
tended
. ., .. ’ .......... ....
J. M. Merritt and H. U. ll.le atter..., ,.
Justice court at Harmony Grove yester
day.
The temperance meeting held in the
Presbyterian church last Saturday night
was largely attended. It was u’ grand
success, and reflects honor upon the
Good Templars of Maysville.
JEFFERSON NEWS.
PORTABLE BAR ROOMS.
YTliat a Correspondent Suj s than,
Those Who Ituy anti l uriiisli |.t.
quor.
Dear Banner-Watchman: In the
case of the Mayor finings man for run
ning a portable drinking saloon in Ath
ens, I am with him, soul and body. Mr.
Lowe, Mr. Dodrick Beusse and others
were deprived oflhe privilege of conning
a stationary drinking saloon by law, but
another party can run a portable drink
ing saloon all over the county, so he
makes his headquarters just outside the
line of Clarke county. A relative of
mine, who lives in South Carolina, told
me that the authorities in Chester, S. C.,
had fined express companies for bring
ing whisky to parties there, and had ef
fectually stopped it. If there is any con
stitutional power in congress to author
ize the sale of whisky in (ieorgia. our
prohibi(ion laws are null and void—
otherwise the Mayor did right in lining
the party for furnishing the whisky, and
Mr. Cobb did right in advising him to do
so. I know old red-nosed topers would
trample all our laws under foot to grat
ify their hellish thirst for the den on.
bisky, which is destroying them, ,aa!
and body: but, thank God, wc have toe
level-headed men, and God's best earth
ly gift (the ladies) to man, on our side,
and it is the right side, and must ulti
mately succeed. I hope I am not a fa?
natic, but my mind lias long been made
up to fight whisky and everything else
that I deem man s enemy. I have said
this much in commendation of our wor
thy Mayor’s course. Very truly yours,
Peter Culp.
DO THEY CONSIDER?
Horae Steps Necessary to the Calling
of a New Liquor Election in Clarke
County.
Editors BannerWatciiman: When
ever you have occasion to mention the
subject of prohibition, you almost inva
riably say something about another elec
tion on that question in this countv. It
occurs tome that it would not be amiss
to call attention to the preliminaries nec
essary to the calling of such an election.
By reference to the "Local (Iption Act for
Clarke County,” appro red Dec. 18, 1884,
and subsequently adopted by the people
of the county, at an election held in ac
cordance with the provisions of that act.
It appears from Section V, among other
requisites therein provided, that “the pe
tition in writing of a majority of tho
qualified voters of said county, as shown
by the digest of the Tax Rejjivcr," must
first be tiled with the Ordinary before
any steps can be taken toward calling
such subsequent election. It is saft- to
say such a petition will never be made,
hence a subsequent election on prohibi
tion in Clarke county is scarcely a moot
point. Eakem.
The Street Sprinkler. After sever-.
al months of retirement the street sprink
ler was brought out yesterday morning
and helped to lay the blinding dust that
the wind was blowing everywhere. The
sprinkler is in a terribly leaky condition,
but if something was not the matter with
it, it would not be tho same old sprink
ler. The horses of Pioneer Hook and
Laddder Company were very frisky in
their movements as they drew the
sprinkler here and there, and seemed to
appreciate the fact that it was several
pounds lighter than the trucks they have
been pulling about the streets lately.
Broad street and Clayton were rendered
much more pleasant yesterday after the
sprinkler had gotten in its work.
Later.—About two o'clock the sprink
ler was taken to the blacksmith shop.
It is expected that it will remain there
more or less all Summer, it took quite
a fancy to it last Summer.
Daily PrayerMketino.—The Y.M.C.
A. has revived the old custom of holding
half hour prayer meetings every day
at noon. They have been going on for
three days and arc full of interest.
Twenty or thirty good men meet every
day and pray and sing. Business men
drop in on their way to the bank, stay a
few minutes and retire as their time may
demand. But the meetings are well led
and greatly enjoyed.
Mr. Thomas Holmes Wilson was at
one time one of the largest dry goods
merchants in Athens.
Dr. Silver has returned to Athens after
a trip North. Lie intends to make a lit
tle trip over to Madison soon.
The people are interested in fixing up
the base ball grounds on the campus for
tha boys.