Newspaper Page Text
SUPPLEMENT TO
THE BANNER-WATCHMAN, ATHEN , GA. DECEMBER, 2i, 1S86
m
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THE OIL TRUST MONOPOLY.
The Savannnah Morning News says:
A strong effort is being made to bull the
stock of the American Cotton^Seed Oil
Trust Company. Newspaper writers
ho handle Waff street matters arc try-
ing to show not only that the stoc '
company is worth more than its presen
price, hut that the company, which is a
huge monopoly, promises to be 0 ras
benefit to the cotton planters.
The history of the American Cotten
Seed Oil Trust Company is quite well
known. A year or so ago all the cotton
seed oil mills in the country were acting
independently of each other. As they
were all competing with each other, the
planters stood a pretty good chance of
getting a fair price for cotton seed. A
few mills pooled their assets and formed
the American Cotton Seed Oil Trust, and
Bet to work to get control of aU the cot
ton oil mils in the country. At the out
set the stock of the company, the par
value of which is $100 per share, was
quoted at $20 per share. As one mill
after another was drawn into the combi
nation the market value of the stock ad
vanced. The company now has about
130 of the 150 mills in the country, and
its stock 13 quoted at 60, with pretty fair
indications that it will reach par before
another year.
The claim that is made that this huge
monopo.y is better for the planter than
competing, millib might be admitted if
ere were a disposition to pay a fair
pnefr.was there evw
a monopoly that paid more for a thing
than it had to? It may be paying a fair
price now for cotton seed, but how*long
will it continue to do so? When it gets
control of the few remaining mills the
probabilities arejthat it will reduce the
price of seed so that it will scarcely pay
a planter to transport it "to the railroad
depot.
The company is able not only to con
trol the price of cotton seed but also of
all the products of the seed. When the
cotton oil market is dull it can either stop
production until prices improve, or it can
Btore its products until a scarcity is pro
duced and the demand becomes active
again. It is not often that a manufactur
ing monopoly has such absolute control
of both the raw material and the manu
factured article.
The company being able to pay what it
pleases for cotton seed and to fix its own
price for oil and oil cake, there is no goad
reason why its stock should not go to
par. Even at present prices there is an
immense profit in handling cootton seed.
All that is required to make the monopo
ly immensely successful is good manage
ment, and that doubtless it will take care
to have. The few mills that have thus
far refused to come into the combination
will, doubtless, in the course of time he
be starved, as it were into submission.
The monopoly, when it wants them, will
probably enter their territor^and buy up
ull the cotton seed at prices which they
cannot afford to pay, annd which the mo
nopoly would not pay except to destroy
oppesition.
The planters cannot very well form
combinations to hold their cotton seed
until they can get a fair price ’or it, be
cause their number is too great, and in
many instances their necessities are too
pressing to permit of harmonious action.
As far as then cotton seed is concerned
they are in the grasp of a huge monopoly,
and it only remains to be seen how hard
the pressure upon them will be.
'Assistant Postmaster General Brady,
who has been stopping at Taylor’s Ho
tel in Jersey City, N. J., for several
weeks was ii the bar-room of the hotel
when he was joined by Major Bridgeford,
attached to the staffs of General Lee
and Stonewall Jackson during the late
war and the gentlemen were soon en
gaged in conversation, the subject being
the war. The conversation resulted in
a heated discussion, and finally General
Brady applied the epithet “rebel” to the
Major. “You’re a sucker and a star-
route sucker at that,” retorted Major
Bridgeford. “You’re a d—d liar,” cried
. General Brady, who aimed a vigorous
blow at the Major’s face as ho spoke.
The blow fell short and the Major plac
ed himself in a fighting attitudo. ’ Gen
eral Brady seemed equally willing for
the fray, but others interfered and sep
arated the contestants. A reconciliation
was subsequently effected and the gen
tlemen shook hauds before retiring for
the night.
For months bad feeling has existed
between the Seminole Indians in Dade
and Monroe counties, Florida, and a band
of cowboys encamped on Lako Okeecho
bee. These Indians claim that these
employees of the South Florida cattle
kings drive off and kill their cattle hogs.
Three weeks ago shots were exchanged
between the parties. The Indians have
since been having war dances in the
everglades. Many settlers have re
moved their iamilies to the islands for
safety. A gentleman from Titusville
says the people on the outskirts of the
everglades fear a massacre of the whites
unless the trouble is adjusted in a few
days. The Seminoles number 5(X) tight
ers, and could defy capture in the ever
glades. "
It is rumored that the Georgia Match
Factory will start up soon under a strong
management. /
OPPRESSED IVOR KING WOMEN.
A New York City paper says there
are 2<)0,0(X) workingwomen in New
York. The highest average earning of
these workers is $7 a week. Numbers
earn but $5 a week. Thousands are un
able, with sixteen hours’ work every
day, to reach the lower amount. The
prices for the work they do are miserable
almost beyond belief. Competition both,
in trade afid in the labor market has
wrought this state of things, and under
the existing condition there is no pros
pect of better times. With a continual
foreign immigration which maintains the
supply of unskilled and partly skilled fe
male labor, and with a competition in
manufacturing which compels the pro
ducer to avail himself of- every help,
the working women are ground as be
tween the upper and nether millstone,
and there is no help for them. Rut it is
evident that society cannot longer toler
ate a state of things which involves an
inhumanity that would shame savages;
which gives the lie hourly to the assum
ed Christianity of the nation; and which
not only fosters and encourages but
tends to justify the feelings .of hatred
and enmity toward the state and the
whole social system so menacingly pro
gressive and apparent.
Editor Cutting seems desirous of em
ulating the fame of Filibuster Walker.
He says he has already 2,000 men en
rolled to take Mexico, and only needs a
force of 8,000 to insure success.
Hjy yerv frank declaration of his policy
may attract recruits, Sut it wiff cerKmiy’
also attract the attention of the authori
ties whose business it is to prevent un
authorized warfare upon friendly coun
tries. Who knows whether this may
not be just what Cutting wants—the ad
vertisement of a hero without the re
sponsibilities and perils of an outlaw
chief.
The introduction of twenty-three bills
into the Legislature asking for railroad
charters indicates that there is plenty of
room yet in Georgia for new railroads. If
all tho charters asked for are granted it
is probable that there will be considera
ble railroad building in the state within
the next few years. It is not to be ex
pected, however, that half the roads
chartered will be built in the near fu
ture. That would be too much to ex
pect.
% — - — -
On March 4 the United States Senate
will stand 38 Democrats to 38 Republi
can. Senator Riddleberger is outraged
at his treatment by Senator Mahone and
the sergeant-at-arms in the matter of
patronage. He now swears that for re?
venge he will vote with the Democrats to
oust the sergeant-at-arms and to secure
the reorganization of the Senate and its
committees.
The entire management of the Orphan’s
Home of the North Georgia Con
ference, located at Decatur, has been
turned over to Rev. Sam Jones, the su
perintendent, teachers and matron being
appointed by him. It is possible that
Mr. Thos H. Holleyman, now living near
Rome, will be appointed superintendent.
A body was brought to the medical
college at Baltimore by a grave robber,
who said he would call for his money af
terwards. It now turns out that the wo
man was murdered for fifteen dollars,
the price agreed on for the body. The
coroner’s inquest is anxiously looked for
ward to. ' SflBSa
Italy is trying to borrow 3,506,000
lires. Wiggins might be sent over as a
goad basis for the loan.—Columbus En
quirer-Sun. It would be a cyclone that
would not come off, if arranged by Wig
gins.”—N. 0. Picayune.
The Elyton Land Company, of Bir
mingham, declares about 240 per cent,
yearly dividends on a capital of $200,-
000. The dividends this year will
amount to $500,0000. Big thing.
The census just taken by the publsb-
ers of a new city directory gives Atlanta
a population of 60,943. Of this popula
tion, 41,908 are white and 18,943 are
colored.
Land in three miles of Birmingham,
Ala., sold last Tuesday for over $1,300 an
acre. There is cheaper land than that
in three miles of New York.
DOWN IN OGLETHORPE-
Plenty of Hard Times—Tl»c Sew
Court Mouse—Judge I pson’s Es-
| late—Harry Hill’!* Big Land Trade
—Other Scwi.
Crawford, Ga., Dec. 14.—Editors
Banner-Watchman: There is little to
write from this city, except that w 3 - are
all in a tight, and both farmers and mer
chants are as blue as indigo. The cot
ton crop is fully 25 per cent, short of what
we* counted on. Small grain and bottom
land corn was a failuae, and as a conse
quence I never saw as gloomy an out
look as just now. It is darkly, deeply,
beautifully blue. We are, however, put
ting our trust in Providence, and by
hard work and economy hope to pull
through.
A heavy burthen has been added to
the already oppressed tax-payers of this
County in our new court house, that
when completed and furnished, will not
co.-t much less than $30,000. This un
necessary extravagance is denounced
from from one end of our county to the
other, but we must grin and bear the
burthen. It is a handsome and conveni
ent building, but we could have done very
well with one that would have cost half
the money. That town clock, too, seems
to me a needless extravagance, that we
could do very well without.
The winding up of the estate of the
late Judge F. L. Upson will bear hard on
many of our people, and turn them out
of house and home. Judge Upson had
loaned a great deal of money on farm
lands in this county, and only asked his
interest Now that he is dead his es
tate must be wound up, and I le;^i that
Col. Sims has notified all indebted to the
estate that he will expect full settlement
oftheirnotes on the first of next Jannary,
as he is determined to close the business,
and he does not wish to have Mrs. Upson
annoyed with it, hence the necessity' r
' , y : i ; t!§s]ng’donections. v ' It?s estimated that
over $35,000 is due the estate in this
county, secured by mortgage on farms.
Unless other arrangements can be made,
great blocks of land will be sold under
the hammer of the sheriff. At a cash
sale they will not bring half their value.
I see a dispatch in your paper'stating
that Mr. Tom Amis has sold his
plantation and mill to Mr. Harry Hill for
$18,000. There is a hitch in the trade,
and it has not as yet been consummated.
I leorn that Mr. HiU wants to pay $6,000
cash, and give an order on certain parties
in Augusta for the rest, and demands that
Mr. Amis give him a clear title. Mr.
A. declines. This is one of the best
farms, in our county, and cost its owner
$20,000. i
In spite of hard times land here is ad
vancing in value, as shown at the last
first Tuesday. Ordinary farms brought
from $5 to $8 per acre. There is life in
the old land yet.
Will write you again soon.
Amicus.
ATLANTA NEWS-
Violating Prohibition Laws-Col. Stovall’s
Address--Burning of a Steamer on the
Mississippi—Other News.
Atlanta, Dec. 14.—[Special.] Albert
Staub was fined twenty-fiive dollars and
cost to-day for violating prohibition -
Col. Stovall addressed a meeting of the
citizens at Chamber of Commerce to-day
in the interest of tho London exhibition.
Committees were appointed and^much
interest was manifested.
J. M. White—largest steamer on the
Mississippi, burned this morning, near
Bayou Seira, Louisana. ‘Sixty lives lost
and a cargo of two thousand bales of
cotton.
The alladged lobby invesgation will
probably close to-night in reference to
the Georgia marble branch of the ques
tion. It has established nothing- against
gentlemen involved, and several reputa
ble men have sworn they would not be
lieve under oath Bisamer, who made
affidavit on which investigation was
based.
On motion of Mr. Peek,«the Senate
went into executive session, and confirm
ed. the following appointment by the
Govenor:
Hon.- Howell Cobb, Judge of city
court, in Clarke county, for 4 years, from
Sept.12 1887. *
Hon. Richard M. Jackson, to be Judge
of Oconee county court for 4 years, from
November 18, 1887.
Under a suspension of the rules the bills
to incorporate the Athens & Jefferson
railroad Company, and the Bankof iump-
kin, were read the second time.
SMALL PROFITS-
The Reason Atbens Merchants Bo
So Much Business.
It mystifies the Atlanta and Augusta
merchants to understand why it is that
the little city of Athens can so far un
dersell them, and has made such fearful
inroads into theterritory of these cities—
actually .shipping goods to their very
gates. In the first place, the merchants
of Athens are all self-made men, used to
hard work and economy, and their ex
penses are comparatively light. They
can live on one-fourth or less of what it
requires their rivals in the other Ge’or-
gir tiade-centres to expend. Again,
there are no drones in any of our stores,
and everybody must do his best, from
the proprietor down to. the office boy.
Then there is more energy here than
ony place you ever saw, and our
merchants are determined that they won’t
be undersold. They have plenty of cap
ital, a splendid credit, and# their stores
and warehouses do their own draying,
and, in fact, are in a position to com
pete with any market in America. The
other day the conversation turned on
the low prices at which Athens sells
goods, when a gentleman remarked:
“Yes, we undoubtedly have the cheap
est market in Georgia, and our mer
chants are content with the merest frac
tional part of a profit. Do you knew
that we often sell hails at a profit of only
two cents on the keg, and to get ahead of
Atlanta I have known Athens drummers
to give away their .drayage to and [from
the depot. Our boys had rather work
for nothing than have an Atlanta^ man
get ahead of them. Why, I tell you
that from 25 to 50 cents is the average
profit on a barrel of sugar, while I have
known $1,000 worth of meat or corn to
be sold at a profit of only $2 to the mer
chant. No other place except Athens
can afford to work at such short profits,
and all oar merchants make good livings,
too. They sell immense- stocks of
goods, and it counts up mighty fast.”
Two of the richest women in the
world are dying in New York, Miss Cath
erine Wolfe and Mrs. William Astor.
Both have been charitable in their way.
—
Senator Edmunds has introduced a
bill in Congress to make the laws of mar
riage and divorce uniform in all the
States.
^SStSOzm
FLOWING WITH HONEY.
Glowing Picture of Arkansas deluding
South Carolina Negroes,
Charleston, S. C. ; December 9.—Allu-
THE ALDERMANIC RACE.
Contest Before Judge Evans
the Second Ward.
Over
Yesterday morning, promptly a 9
o’clock a. m., his Honor J. G. Evans be
gan taking the evidence for W. A. Mc
Dowell, contestant in the case of Mc
Dowell vs. Murray, who are contesting
for Aldamanic honors in the second
ward. By the returns of the managers
Mr. Murray was elected, and has been so
declared by the City Council, and a cer
tificate of election has been given of his
election. But McDowellJclaims that Mr.
Murray had polled for him several votes
which were illegal, and that he (McD.)
was legally elected, and on this'ground
he asks the seat in council now occupied
by Mr. Murray.
The entire day was consumed in taking
evidence for Mr. McDowell, and Mr.
Murray’s attorneys express themselves
as wonderfully well satisfied with the
result and are confident that the contest
will result in increasing Murray’s ma
jority.
Mr. Murray will in a few days, serve
the contestant with proper notice and
will proceed to dive into the mysteries
of the election, resurect the ballots and
show who the illegal voters are on the
other side.
After the evidence is all taken down
by both sides before Judge Evans, it is
then transmitted to His Honor Judge
Hutchins, who will hear argument of.
counsel and declare the result. This will
be as soon as practicable. The contest
yesterday was slow, tedious and labori
ous, and counsel on each side were doing
their utmost for their man, "Mr.McDowell
is ably representy by Messrs. Barrow,
Thomas and Tuck, whilst the defendant
is backed hy Messrs. Brown, G. G. Thom
as and Burnett. Every point of interest
was closelp guarded, and as the election
was soclosy it will probably be definitely'
seitled this side of the court, as both
sides seem very determined »n the mat
ter, and both doubtles honestly believes
he is legally elected.
sion has already been made to the move
ment among the negroes living in the
Savannah valley of Barnwell, Aiken,
Hampton and Beaufort comities, towards
a wholesale exodus to Arkansas, which
they call the *‘land of promise.” Similar
movements of lesser importance have
been attempted in Lancester, Marlboro,
Chesterfield and other counties. Small
parties from Appleton and Campleton, in
Barnwell county, have already gone, but
these will not number more than three
hundred. The mevement has been stir
red up by strange white men, who rep
resent themselves to he advance ticket
agents of railroad companies. These
men have mingled freely with the negroes
and have told them wonderful stories of
Arkansas. As they have collected small
amounts from each intended emigrant in
advance, many think that they are swin
dlers. Others say that they are agents
getting hands for mines and railroad build
ers.
A glorious picture is printed of the
promice land. Several trains are prom
ised to take everybody on January 1,
with bands playing and banners flying.
There will be sleeping-cars arfd special
dining-cars without extra charge. The
fare will be only $10, and baggage, chil
dren and dogs will be taken free. Spe
cial agents will accompany the emigrants
and-show them the beauties of the coun
try they pass through. The agents tell
them that they will be able to secure re
munerative employment as soon as they
reach Arkansas as doctors, lawyers,
clerks in stores, preachers, teachers and
in all the professions and business in
which white men are employed here,
r nfiwTwia* f-S.lbat there are no race distinc-
Tney sajr ...j: '» -j colored
tions there at all, that white auu G/ 5 33$d
children go-to the same schools, anu
that white children are taught by color
ed • teachers. Both races go to the same
churches, and have preachers without
respect to color, except that colored
preachers are more largely in demand
than their white brothers. In society
both races mingle freely togeather. Col
ored women walk arm-in-arm with whit-
women in she streets, sit together in the
parlors and eat together atthasame table.
Whites employ colored doctors and law
yers as freely as they do those of their own
color. Their politicial future is said to be
especially bright, as now more of the of
fices in the state and counties are filled
by colored men.
Common field laborers are promised
their board and $50 a month. Cooks can
make $40 to $50 and others in proportion.
No laborers are expected to work beyond
six hours a day, *and all farmers invite
their laborers to dine with them. The
productiveness of the Arkansas soil is
painted in glowing colors. Corn requires
no cultivation and yields 100 bushels an
acre. Cotton only has to be planted once
and it grows like a tree. One tree often
yields a bale. Coffee, tea, molasses and
sugar grows wild. Horses, hogs and cat
tle run wild through the .woods and are
consideredc ommon property.
These and such silly stories are believed
by the negroes in spite of the ridicule of
their employers and white neighbors.
The farmers are much excited at the pros
pect of losing a large number of laborers,
and are trying to induce the colored peo
ple to remain. The negroes say they
can made no money here, and they want
to try “Rockansaw and see what it is.
The Georgia Midland.—Tracklaying
on the Midland reached Waverly Hall
Saturday evening. Mr..T. J. James has
taken personal management of the track -
laying gang and work will rapidly pro
gress from now on. Capt. T. Jeff Bates
is now in charge of the trestle piling on
this road. All grading for the first forty
miles of the road is now cumplete. The
last camp this side of the mou itain
moves this week. The heading of the
tunnel is in fifty feet of completion.
Daylight will show through Pine moun
tain by the 15th. The force sent down
North Carolina is at work between
Griffin and McDonough. The progres-
si\e profiles of the company show seven
ty miles of completed road. A regular
schedule will be put on hy the 20th.—•
Enquirer Sun.
Old Women’s Whispers.
If on going out of the house you forget
something you must under no circum
stances turn back if you can possibly
avoid it; if you do you must at any rate
sit down a moment before going out
again.
If the first person you meet is an old
woman it is a sign of coming misfortune,
while, on the contrary, a funeral proces
sion denotes good fortune.
Pigs to your left bring good luck, to"
your right the opposite; to overt which,
grasp something made of steel and the
spell will be broken.
If on sitting out on a journey you meet
a sow and pigs your enterprise will he
sure to be successful.
To meet two magpies portends mar
riage; three, a successful journey, four,
unexpected good news.
To see one magpie and then more is
unlucky; to kill one of these birds is irte-
trivable misfortune. It is also unlucky
to kill a swallow.
If your left hand itches you will take
in money; if the right you will pay it
out.
A ringing in the right ear means that
some one is speaking well of you; in the
left, you may be sure that evil tongues
are busy with you.
If your right eye itches you will see
some beatiful sight; if the left, you will
have cause to shed tears.
If your nose itches you will hear some
news or—will fall into the mire.
JUG TAVERN NOTES.
Mrs. Johnson improving—other Items in
and Around the tgwn.
Jug Tavern, Dec.14.—[Special ] Mrs.
W. T. Johnson, whose illness was men
tioned a few days ago, is improving.
Mr. W. R. H. Statham, familiarly
known as “Unclp Dick,” is always hap
py when the crowd gets pretty full and
he is the chief in fullness. On a certain
occasion, when the" crowd was composed
of church members as well as sinners,
and all feeling particularly jolly, “uncle
Dick” drew himself up, and as his bosom
swelled with delight at the dismal spec
tacle, he said, “This is the occasion I
long have wished to see—Primitives,
Missionaries, Bible Christians and Metho
dists. all communing together.”
Messrs. Elijah Lay and James Seegars
concluded to go down the" country to sell
some stock. It is said of them that they
started out with a Few Texas ponies
and mules, and being 'Unfamiliar with the
world and its wonders, they took along
a pocket map. It served them very well
until they got as far south as High
Shoals. There snow began to fall, great
ly to their astonishment, as they thought
snow was only intended for the upper
counties. One remarked to the other
as he looked on the mad, “I say, we are
wrong! W.e are too far north, and we
had better sura hack.”
A Bold Deed.—Yesterday a negro en
tered the pasture of Mr. J. H. Smith who
lives between Athens and Princeton fac
tory, and drove out one of his finest
Jersey heifers and brought it to the city
and sold it to Mr. Ned Smith, a butcher,
for $5. Mr. J. H.*Smith came in a few
minutes alter the trade was made and
recognized his animal just in time to save
it from being carried to the slaughter
pen. The negro had received his money
and had made good his escape.
Damage Suits.—Damage suits, the
past two years, is a luxury that has cost
the tax tax payers of Athens not less
than $4,000. We hope that our new ad
ministration will so move as to prevent
this unnecessary expense. The people
want to see some better return than this
for the money they pay into the treasury.
Mayor Reaves is fortuBate in not having
a single damage suit brought under his
administration. Let Mr. Hodgson strive
for the same end, He doubtless will.
Passed Away.—The quivering of the
earth, noticeable so long after the earth
quake, and particularly at night, has
about ceased, and the earthquake testers
show that our globe is cow compartively
tranquil. -•
Oglethorpe Taxes.—Collector Ama-
son, of Oglethorpe county, was in the
city yesterday and tells us that he yet
lacks about $4,000 of getting in all the
taxes. The levy aggregates about $18,-
000. Money is very tight and some of
the best men are yet behind.
Wrd Game.—A man from Madison
county came into town yesterday with
100 live patrages, that he had caught in
a ne}, and they sold readily at from 10 to
12]^cents each. Rabbits are also plenti
ful and sell at 10 cents. We uever knew
our game market better supplied: The
first shad of the season reached the city
this week, but sold at faoy prices.
The English Sparrow.—This little
bird has increased so rapidly in America,
and has created such a furore, that the
general government has undertaken to
study its habits and write it up, and will
soon issue a book, with colored maps, es
pecially devoted to the English sparrow.
They are great pests in Athens, and our
people would like to know how to get rid
of them. For table use they are said to
be equal to the rice bird.
A Cure for Insomnia.—Everybody
knows ibe taste of onions. This is due
to a particular essential oil contained in
this most valuable and healthy root.
This oil has, I am sure, highly saporific
powers. In my own case, it never fails.
If I am much pressed with work, and
feel I shall not sleep, I eat two or three
small onions, and the effect is magical.
Frank Buckland.
Toccoa Items.—The Jarretts mill was
sold in Carnesville last Tuesday, for the
purpose of division. It was purchased^
by Messrs. Charley Jarrett andJule
Ramsey for $1,012
Rev. W. B. Brown, of Nail’s creek,
Banks county, lost forty dollars, or
thought he did, in Toccoa, a couple of
weeks ago, when he arrived at home,
searched his vest pockets and found the
money. Mr. Brown is over 80 years of
age.—News.
Through to Athens.—We are enabled
to make the following statement: A few
.of the moneyed men of Eatonton, realiz
ing that anew railroad will not be likely
to spring up by magic, are putting their
heads together to devise a plan for secur
ing a road from Eatonton to Madison,
then on to Athens. The gentlemen who
are interesting themselves in the matter
are wide awake and public-spirited, and
they hav- sufficient means to plank
down their part of the cash. It is pro
posed to agitate the question.—Eatonton
Messenger,
Destitute Condition of Hany
pie in tl»e Countrv.
A gentleman whose profession carries
him into many houses in the country, and
who is familiar with the condition of the
different classes of our people, stated
in conversation with the B. W.:
“You have noideh the amount of des
titution there is among the poor peoplo
living in the country, and each day l am
more firmly impressed with the fact that
one-half the world does not know how
the other half lives. This destitution is
not confined to the negroes, hut there tire
living in the counties around Athens hun
dreds of white families to whom meat is
a luxury, and they are thankful to get
enough bread to eat. I am constantly
called to these people’s homes, and see
them at their tables, and therefore know
whereof I speak. One man confessed to
to me the other day, and he owned a
small farm, too, that his family had not
tasted meat of any kind in six weeks
except a rabbit that one of the children
caught, and that had to be cooked with
out a particle of grease. They
had lived on dry bread, and what
little milk a poor old cow gave. The
credit of this man, too, was good, but be
this year got in debt, and was stinting
himself to. pay out. But his case was
an exceptionally good one. There are •
other familes who depend on their land
lords for every bite that goes into their
mouths, and as they are already in debt,
are completely run aground, and know
not where thedr next meal is to come
from. Their little children often go to
bed hungry. And many of these fami
lies, too, have not $2 worth of furniture
in their houses. It is incredible to con
ceive how people so destitute caft live at
all. Their beds are a tick filled with
straw, and the covering a few old. rags.
And 1 know families in this condition
who once owned slaves and were well-
to-do. I tell you, it is pitiful. Of
'•jjor’J?® * d° not apply to the whole
0uu toJLrefer only to the poorest
country. [ lands and de-
class of whites, Vim t ; n e ‘ru U them,’
pend on their landlords to ’ -v **
as do negroes. The land-o "" v ‘
while most of them are in debt*
are, of course, u more independ
ent and live very well. I tell you,
the country is getting poorer and poorer
every year. I have noticed the situation
ever since the war, and see a gradulal
downward tendency. The land, and all
the property worth having, is getting in- *
to the hauds of a few men, while the
great masses are straining every nerve’to
either keep body and soul together or save
what little they have lelft from the
clutches of the sheriff. The negro is
neither progressing or retrograding... He
is the same indolent, careless, dependent
creature that emancipation found him,
and is content to let each day take care
of itself. I do not know what will be
the outcome of all this. The outlook 1 is
not bright by any means. It looks very
much to me, from the way-that real
estate is being bought up by?af few par
ties, that we are threatened with a reign
of landlordism and serfs. I hope for
the best, however.”
RAILROAD FEVER-
VHt
The Walton County People
Railroad.
Jug Tavern, Dec. 11.—[Special.] Yes
terday, at the residence of the brides’
father, Mr. A. Tanner, in Waltoiv county,
Mr. John T. Perry was united in marri
age to Miss Sallie V. Tfuner. jjlgg at
tendants were Mr. Lloyd Thomas and
Miss Mollie Tanner, Mr. WrarC. HiU and
Miss Ella Perry. Mr. Perry is an indu -
trious young man and made an exceUe -1
choice in selecting his bride. Miss Sall%
is one of the favorites of thiB. community
and many kind wishes accompany her to
her new home. May their lives be one
of unalloyed happiness to the end.
The citizens of Jug Tavern are very
anxious to see the G.-C. & N. R. R. run
ning through their little city. When
called upon to subscribe, they will cer
tainly give their quotas.■ ■ u: Ju <• w**.•
The route by jug T&v.eru would cer
tainly be the most direct, and would cost
the company $75,000 less than any other
they might select. It is & natural road
bed from Athens to Lawrericeville, and
would not cost over $500 per mile to
grade it. The right of way can be ob
tained very easily throughout this locali
ty. The people have the railroad fever,
COUNTRY COMPRESSES.
All the Principal Paints to Hava
Cattan Campreecet.
\Ye learn that arrangements are al
ready on foot to put up cotton compress
es at the principal points on the Geor
gia, Carolina & Northern railroad, when
built, and it is reported that Gen. Hoke
has promised his aid to certain gentlemen
in such enterprises. Mr. L. H. O. Mar
tin is now earnestly commending the
project of building a compress in El-
berton, and is backed by several men of
experience and capital. It is also stated
that Hon. James M. Smith, the great
Oglethorpe farmer, will establish a com-|;:
press at his place, and compress his. cot
ton by the same power that gins it. If
this design is carried out, it will effect
the receipts of Athens, as the cotton will
be shipped direct to the seaboard with
out the necessity of bringing it here to be
compressed.
We yesterday asked Mr. W. G. Orr
what he thought of these country com
prises? * : -
“They will never be built,” was the
reply, It takes a great deal of money to
build and operate a cotton compress, and
one won’t pay unless 20,000 or 30,000
bales are insured each season. Very
few places can supplv this much cotton.”
J. N. Worley, of Elbkrton.—In
speaking of the rising young lawyers of
Georgia to Mr. L. H. 0. [Martin, of El-
berton, that gentleman remarked; “We
have in Elberton the biggest lawyer in
Georgia, and it won’t be manj*years be
fore he is called to supreme bench. I re
fer to Mr. J. N. Worley. He is a young
man, but is one of the deepest lawyers I
ever knew, and is regarded as a leader at,
the bar. His opinion i3 sought by the best
lawyers that practice at oiir court. Mr.
Worley is a hard student, and the only
danger is that he wiH impair his health
by overwrok. He has a great future ahead*
of him. He is leading the practice and
making money right along. Joe WorleT
will make his mark anyifhert,”