Newspaper Page Text
THE VIENNA
\CM
TEEMS, $1. Per Annum.
Hew to the Line, Let the Chips Fall Where They May. 1
JOHN E, HOWELL, Editor and ProprietO' 1 .
k
:
VOL. XII. NO. 14
VIENNA. GA.. TUESDAY. OCTOBER 31, 1893.
PUBLISHED WEEKLY.
A homestead taken up in Nebraska
six years ago for nothing is worth now
about $2000.
There are associations in Great
Britain which insure against elope
ment, matrimony and twins.
A Maine farmer who found recently
a fine gold watch and chain hanging in
one of his apple trees thinks the thief
got the worst of it.
■ The success of the three experiment
farms in Manitoba, Assiniboia and
British Columbia is causing Canadian
farmers to urge the Government to
establish a larger number.
The signs “Barber Shop,” “Shaving
Parlor,” “Tonsorial Studio” have all
gone out of date with a Pittsburg hair
dresse? relates the Chicago Herald,
who displays a line new shingle bear
ing the proud inscription, *‘Theophilus
Browne, Capillaire.”
The intensity of confined sound is
illustrated at Causbrook Castle, Isle of
Wight, where there is a well 200 feet,
deep and twelve feet in diameter, lined
with smooth masonry. When a pin ie
dropped into it the sound of it strik
ing the water, 182 feet below, can be
distinctly hoard.
Commander Ludlow, of the Mohi
can, which has been patrolling Bering
Sen all summer, estimates the product
of pelagic sealing this year at 60,000
skins. The total value of the year’s
sealing product, including the catch
of the lessees of the seal islands, he
estimates at about $1,000,000.
It is to be feared, says the New York
Sun, that the Infanta Eulalia, of Spain,
has been spoiled by her taste of this
land - of the free, for she is reported as
having a little lark in London. She
has been living “incog” in a furnished
house, riding iu the park on a hired
horse, and shopping on foot. Her
two small boys, Princes Louis and
Alfonso, have been with her.
The San Prancisco Argonaut says:
The largest millionaire fortunes in
1 c.v York City have come from two
tonrees: One, the enormous growth
in the valuo of real estate, called by
Henry George “unearned increment
Lie other, by getting possession for
r.-,filing from the State or city of
fr inchises, which really give the
owner a sum which, if paid to-the city
< r State, would relievo us from all ex
cessive taxation.
AS TRANSMITTED TO THE STATE
LEGISLATURE.
Tie Financial Station Aided
to at Some Leifi
PROTECTION OF STATE BANKS BY
CHARTERS KECOMMENI)ED.
Education, Taxation, Penitentiary,
the Jury Sysfem, Railroads anil
Other Important Questions,
Ahly Touched Upon.
Thi! bicycle is getting to be- nearly
as common in the country as in the
city, declares- the New^ York Sun.
'There is probably not a village of any
consequence in New England where at
least one performer on this instru
ment cannot be found, and the sight
of three or four machines beside the
door of the local tavern at- meal hours
is common. Nor,are these obsolete
forms of bicycle, either ; there are no
more tall wheels nor wooden wheels in
tii • country than in town, for, in spite
of the high prices, the formers man-
ago to get the best. .-
The panic of 1893 has differed in
several respects from all previous ones,
r ‘ narks the New York Independent,
an 1 particularly that manufacturers,
pr i lueers and the general business
p i die have been for months prepar
ing for what we have experienced this
sa amer. There has been for a long
time a continuous contraction of stocks
on hand in almost- every branch of in
dustry, the result being that stocks
of goods of all sorts at this time are
probably smaller than they hare
been for a great many years. This
fact will start mills and shops into
prompt activity to meet the demand
which must inevitably come.
The wonderful strides the petroleum
industry has taken in PennsylvaniaV
since the first barrel of refined oil wat
offered for sale thirty years ago it
illustrated by some figures which are
found in a report recently made by
Albert S. Bolles, Chief of the State
Bureau of Industrial Statistics. The
exports of refined oil now rank it
value fourth on the list, ‘ being ex
ceeded only by cotton, breadstuff's ami
provisions. For the year ending June
30, 1861, the total exports were 23,-
000,000 gallons. Five years later they
had increased to 100,000,000 gallons.
In 1874 to 200,000,000 gallons, and in
IS91 to 700,000,000 gallons. A larget
percentage of the oil product of the
country is sent abroad than of any
other product except cotton. The re
duction iu price has been remarkable.
In 1861 the price of a gallon of export
oil was 611 cents; in 1871, 23 j cents,
in 1881,8 cents; in 1891, 6j-cents:
and in 1892, 6 cents. The growth of
the industry is also well illustrated by
the facts that 25,000 miles, of pipe lines
and 9000 tank-cars have .been built to
convey the oil. Fifty-nine; freight
steamers are now employed in ’ trans
porting it to foreign countries. The
capital iu Pennsylvania wells mid
lands is estimated at .$87,000,000, and
$65,000,009 is iftTCStedsun-iptahts -for
producing the crude petroleum. This
is exclusive of such accessories as pipe
lines, tank-cars, refineries, docks,
fleets 4>f vessels, etc., and an estimate
of $300,000,000 as the total valuation
of all branches of The industry is not
too high,
V . :X . A-iV
To tr.e Senate and House or Representatives:
Since your adjournment, something less
than one year ago, the people of this state,
together wilh the people of our common
country, have suffered from the effects ol
an unusual and long continued financial
string ncy.
If suuh'muner panics can occur whet
our harvests are abundant, and no legiti
mate causes are easily apparent, it behooves
the representatives of the people to inquire
into the conditions that make them possi
ble.
Under such conditions there must be in
our midst some power, somewhere, able to
purelyze and destroy, at will, the commoE
interest and the common good.
Such dangerous influence, if It exist,
should not only he inquired into and re
moved, hut it should ho absolutely de
stroyed. No conditions of class cau justi
fy the growth of a power within the gov-*
ernmeut greater than the people who make
the government.
Without reference to the matters which
have, as ye', claimed the attention of our
national congress, in extraordinary ses
sion as buiug beyond the pale of state au-
thorily, I deem it proper to say to you
that, in my candid judgment, the most, il
not all the ills that affect the country to
day, cjme to us, directly or iudirectly,
from the dangerous and pernicious policy
of lire general government known as pro
tection. Tlie time has cime iu the history
of our people when this policy must bo re
buked, as contrary to the spirit of free gov
ernment, and not authorized by the organ
ic law- that made the American system.
Adopted at the beginning for revenue, it
advanced to the guardianship of our infaut
industries, until it has finally grown into a
monster power, producing combinations
trusts and monopolies that override the
rights of tlie common people, while they
dare dictate the policy of the government
in their cwn interest and against the in
terest of the people.
It is gratifying to know that the political
party now in power stands committed to
repeal its resultant, unconstitutional tax
which destroys the equality of right among
citizens and builds a system of centralized
government.
Not content with denying the rights ol
the individual in trade, the general gov
ernment has advanced to the further de
nial of the lights of the states in their use
of money as established before the adop
tion cf the constitution of the United
States and fully recognized, authorized
and guaranteed in that fundamental law
of our system.
It is equally gratifying to know that the
present federal congress is pledged to re
peal this protected monopoly of money
also, and restore to the states the oppor.
tunity for growth and development com
mensurate with their resources and their
unrestrained energy and will.
No tax was ever imposed by the federal
government upon the issuo of state banks
until the necessities of war demanded tho
revenue. This tax was levied then, first,
as upon manufacturers, for revenue, and
fiually, for protection to our national in
fant financial industries by prohibiting the
rights of the state in money.
The authority extended by the national
government to certain citizens to invest
their money in government bonds; deposit
them with the United States treasurer; re
ceive a bank charter and.have issued nine
ty per cent, of their face value iu bills for
circulation, was not enough to guarantee
the succusb of a money monopoly, if state
hanks of issue wero tolerated by the gen
eral government. Therefore, state banks
of issue needed to he suppressed aud a mo
nopoly created for national currency under
protection by the government. The tax
was levied, the rights of state bauks to
issue bills under slate authority were de
stroyed, aud protected money monopoly
now threatens, more than all else, the lib
erties of the people.
Little, if any, revenue was ever collected
on state Issue, and yet the majority of the
supreme court of the United States held
that it was not within their jurisdiction to
protect state banks against this wholesale
slaughter, saying, further, such hanks must
look alone to congress for relief.
Congress is now iu session, and to con
gress the states must appeal for an equal
chance against protected monopoly to pre
vent uncalled for panics and the conse
quent distress of the people.
- I recommend, therefore, in .anticipation
of suhh action by congress as is guaranteed
.by the democratic platform, such legisla
tion as will charter state bauk3‘- ; cf issue,
npou such safe conditions, without federal
interference or control,' as will secure their
creijjt t>ej ond question ana-furnish to the
-hill-holder absolute aud perfect protection.
When this Is-done our people will get
money at a fair rato of interest when they
need it, and the states will furnish an
elastic currency that will expand and con
tract as our business needs demand; prices
of products will not,be reduced because of
scarcity of money, and congestioivand con.
t action will bo an impossibility under our
financial system.
By independent state action, solvent
county, state aud municipal, i s, well as
national bonus and cash resources can he
use-l w ith perfect security for tho redemp
tion of state bank bills. In this way our
financial basis will be broadened and,with
the protection of the government removed
tom monopolies, whether in manufactures
or money, we will have sound aud abund
ant money for the state and prosperity and
content for the citizen.
TAX RETURNS.
For many successive years the property
of this state l.as steadily advanced iu
value, until the past year.
In 1892 the property of all kiuds returned
for taxation in thls*statc amounted to 8463,-
7.13,534. The returns for tho past year
amount, in the aggregate, to 8453,000.000.
making a 4 anting to about
$12,000,000, the first decrease In tax values
since tho war.
How much of this falling off can be at
tributed to the severe financial crisis
through which we have passed, and how
m«ch to the repeal of the law providing
lor the equalization of lax returns,
leave for your judgment to deter
mine. The condition is worthy of your
consideration, certainly, when it is known
that not only the tax values have fallen off
$12,000,000, but that the acreage of the
state has shrunk 551,623 acres—not quite
cne thousand square miles.
It is quite evident that onr system of
taxation is at fault. Justice to the citizen
demands a remedy,
Tue expenses of the government remain
ing the same, the larger tho tax returns
tho less the rate; the greater the lack of
uniformity in the returns, the greater the
inequality of burden imposed by the rate.
Tlie state is growing in its charities, its
institutions for development'and its edu
cational interests. To meet these de
mands we must have, not only a corre
sponding increase of material wealth, but
a just and uniform return of the property
to Le taxed.
A full and fair return of property means
a low rate. This reform the people will
gladly indorse.
EDUCATION.
The falling off in tax values, just noted,
will reduce the amount contemplated by
your appropriation to the school fund of
ihe state something more than $85,000. II
the schools are continued five mouths, as
heretofore, an additional appropriation
will be necessary.
I earnestly urge upon the general assem
bly some provision by which the teachers
in our common schools shall he paid quar
terly, as are all otl.or stale officials.
The salaries received by the teachers are
not commensurate with the service they
render. Delayed payment compels a heavy
discount on tho scrip furnished them,
neither creditable to the state nor just to a
most worthy class of our citizens.
T he teachers in our schools are, in no
sense, inferior in their rights to other
officers in the state, and they should not
he compelled to carry a iax In tho shape ol
a di count to save the people from a bur
den very much less, because of a much
more general distribution.
If no better plan for payment can be de
vised by the general assembly I would re-
spec fully recommend the levy of a special
tax for one year to raise the amount neces
sary to meet tho salaries of the teachers in
our common schools, even though itslionld
require a double tax for the year of the
levy. It is far better to distribute this bur
den among the people who receive the ben
efit of the service than confine it to the
teachers who have fully earned the money
the state denies them.
TKACHEBS' INSTITUTES.
The small beginning in normal trainiu
provided by the general assembly through
teachers’ institutes has been greatly help
ful for the improvement of the schools.
With some cnanges in the law, that will
readily suggest themselves, after our vast
experience in its operation, the institute
can be even more iffective than now.
Through the liberality ot Dr. J. L. M.
Curry, ihe efficient agent for the distribu
lion cf the Peabody fund, this feature in
our public school system w as inaugurated
aud exclusively maintained until recent
action by our legislature.
This generous aid should receive at the
hands of the general assembly suitable
recognition, not only in proper expression
hut through corresponding appropriation
to increase and enlarge the interests the
generosity of the Peabody board inaugura
ted.
When this shall have been accomplished
tho state will, even then, have made bu
little advance in normal training—aiding
only those who are already teachers. Our
system will always remain inefficient un
til, with proper appropriation for equip
ment and maintenance, the general assem
bly Bhall establish one or more normal
schools, wisely and well organized, for the
training and preparation of those who ex
pect to become teachers.
The constitution of the state provides
“There shall be a thorough system of com
mon schools for tho education of children
in the elementary tranches of an English
education.”
A thorough system cannot bo built up
through incompetent teachers. Normal
training is the only means by which we
can Becure competent teachers. Georgiais
far behind her sister states in this feature
of her system.
The normal school I regard as the most
importantfactor now lacking in our system,
and 1 ask for this recommendation your
earnest consideration.
A E EFOEMATOEY.
If there is any principle or policy iu our
system of government that authorizes or
requires the appropriation of money for
the intellectual and manual training of the
children of the state to prepare them for
citizenship, I am compelled to believe that
the same reasons demand similar care for
the moral reform of those children who,
because of neglect or vicious environ
menfs, become a nuisance to the commun
ity and a burden to the taxpayers of the
state.
A distinguished statesman has said:
“All the vagabonds in the world begin iD
neglected children.” If this statement he
true, it authorizes us to believe that all the
criminals in Georgia have come from an
abused childhood.
Some place, other than the penitentiary
or county chalngang, should bo provided
for the incarceration of children and some
misdemeanor convicts. The disgrace of
confinement and tho wicked influences
which surround the child in the peniten-
liary i r. vent reformation. Thu oeject or
imprisonment should he reform as well as
confinement at hard labor. The slate
owes it to the young criminal to place him
contact with circumstances lhat will
tend to soften, rathir than make
him more obdurate and vicious. Tho
state has an interest iu evory child she
roars. Every good citizen made out of
what was material for a vicious, bad
citizen is an vtumense udvantago to the
state as a self-governing body. The same
tiling is true of the state as a social body.
When it is cocsideied that several hun
dred such citizens can ho made from such
material every year, the effect upon the
population of the state is easily soon. As
such citizens are producers of wealth, the
money investment for their reformation
would he profitable to tlie state.
Tho general assembly, in all the pas',
years of our history, at each of its sessions
ha3 given great consideration to the enact
ment of laws Tor ihe puuisliment of crime,
but we have never yet recorded a law of
practical value for the reformation of a
criminal.
Without such influences, our peniten
tiary and convict camps are but training
schools for criminals.
With 2,200 convicts In our penitentiary
and about the same number in our county
chaingangs, we stand appalled at the pros
pect of the deluge of crime to be turned
upon the stato whfn the limited service ol
these criminafs expires.
In cur state prison there are 2,168 con
victs confined. Of these, 375, or 12 pei
cent are below the ego of 18. Of these lat
ter, 141 are below the age of 16; 80 below
the age of 15; 40 below the age cf 14; 27
below the age of 13; 15 below the age ol
12; two 11 years old, and one at the tender
age of 10. Thirty-six per cent of the con-
Ticts in the penitentiary are below the age
of 20.
Below the age of ten our law hardly rec
ognizes the responsibility of a child, and
sometimes tolerates, If it does not excuse,
his crime. With a degree of indulgence
we leave him unrestrained, a menace to
society until he attains, somewhat, to years
of discretion and perfected rascality, or
confine him with criminals to be made an
outlaw and a fiend.
The alarming increase' in all kinds ol
crime throughout the state demands tbs
thoughtful study of those whose duty it is
to guard ihe public weal by suitable legis
lation, not only for restraint, but for-Te-
form.
If the state owes no duty to its children
born and reared iu poverty and crime,, it
does owe to society the lest protection
~’yJ2j"ieir lawlessness and violence.
The best protection must he reached, not
so much through the punishment of the
criminal as the prevention of crime.
The last United States census reports
forty-live thousand criminals cocfinedin the
prisons of thestatfs. Georgia furnishes five
per cent, of this number. The same census
reports fifteen thousand young convicts in
reformatories for correction. Of this num
ber our state does not report one. Onr
youDg convicts are thrust into chaingangs
for criminal training, and. subsequently,
transferred to the penitentiary for further
development aud education in crime.
It is for the general assembly to say
whether this stain shall longer remain
upon the state.
The policy I am commending for your
consideration is not ac untried experi
ment. For many year.s it has been a part
of the penal system of many of the states,
with goed results to the peace and good
order of society, and an elevated standard
of citizenship.
The records of a majority of the leading
reformatories of the United States show
that more than seventy per cent, of those
turned out from juvenile reformatories be
came law abiding citizens.
The cost to the state is not to he con
sidered when we regard our duty to the
unfortunate or seek the protection of so
ciety against lawlessness and vice. If the
direct tax necessary to maintain such an
institution is an argument against its «?•
tablishment, it may he well to estimate
tlie tax levied upon the counties and tho
slate for the capture of criminals and the
punishment of crime. One criminal in
this state cost one county ten thousand
dollars before he was brought to punish
rnent. Another criminal cost another
county twenty thousand dollars. At this
rate of expenditure the saving would soon
establish a reformatory that would greatly
reduce the crime, and at the same time
save the honor of the state.
COUNTY CHAINGANGS.
I respectfully urge upon the general as
sembly consideration of the special mes
sage, sent in at yonr first session, calling
attention to tho management aud control
of our couuty chaingangs.
Upon investigation, you will find this
system subject to all the criticisms that
have been justly made by the general as
sembly, from time to time, upon our peni
tentiary system, and yet entirely withou
control and supervision by the state.
These convicts are hired or leased to pri
vate parties for the purpose ol personal
gain. So are convicts in our penitentiarv.
In the one case, convicts are turned over
to the mercy of those who have bought
their muscle, without knowledge, by the
state, as to (heir term of service, physical
and moral condition or general treatment
In the other, the state provides proper and
diligent officers who look to the proper
enforcement of the contract, the record ol
the term, the discharge from service, tho
medical care of the prisoner, and the des
ignation of the proper party to administer
punishment. In the penitentiary the eon
vict is the ward, in some sense, of the
Btate. In the chaingang he is at ihe merer
of those who buy his time arid strength to
make money, wilh no designated power to
protect his rights, care for his morals or
defend his person.
In some instance, these convicts are hired
by the same parties who hire penitentiary
convicls, aud they are, therefore, prac
tically, confirud in our penitentiary, when
tho judgment of the court did not so de
termine and their offenses did not so war
rant. This injustice, however, need not
bo mentioned in the presence of the greater
wrong done them in the denial of care and
protection by the state during their term
of service.
These convicts 9hculd receive from the
state the same superintendence as is given
to the convicts hired to the lessees of our
peuitentiary.
In my judgment the general assembly
cannot afford to delay longer the consider
ation duo prisoners confined in our couEty
chain gangs.
PENITENTIARY.
During my term of office I have consid
ered and disposed cf 440 applications for
executive clemency. Of these 382 have
been passed upon since your first session.
Many of these cases have como to me at
the suggestion of the officers of court, and
pardon has been granted because |the
minimun punishment fixed by the law, in
the opinion of the court, was loo severe for
the offence committed. It is not so much
the severity of punishment that deters
crime as the certainty. If the penalty,
many casts, c in) be reduced and the courts
authorized to give a speedy and prom
hearing, the people will have greater re
gard for the majesty of the law and crime
will be reduced.
I earnestly recommend, therefore, the
revision of the penal laws of the state
with the view of adjusting the penalty to
the nature and character of the offence
committed.
The reports submitted by the principal
keeper and physician to the penitentiary
will give you full information as to the
condition of the convicts, and the manage
ment of the camps.
It is due to say that I have had no
trouble in the enforcement of tlie law and
the rules regulating the eoQtrol of prison
ers. The slightest irregularity is always
promptly and fully remedied as soon
the attention of the lessees is called therc-
I find the supervision anil con'roi by
the lessees exercised with due and full re
gard to the terms of the contract with the
state.
Under the law, I have required payment
for escapes occurring from lack of neces
sary diligence and care. Some of the fines
imposed, I have been asked to reduce, be
cause of subsequent capture, after the ex
piration of the sixty days allowed by law.
This I have declined to do because I know
of no such authority given the executive.
It may be worthy of your consideration
to say that after the flue required has been
paid there can he no further inducement
for the lessees to offer a reward for ihe
capture of the escaped convict, and. with
out a reward, not many desperate crimin
als will he returned to the peuitentiary.
OUR JURY SYSTEM.
The constitution of this state declares:
The general assembly abalKprovide by
law for the selection of the most intelligent
and upright men to servo as grand jurors,
and intelligent and upright men to serve
as traverse jurers; nevertheless, thegrand
jurors shall be competent to serve as trav
erse jurors.”
Tlie genera! assembly, by appropriate
legislation, provides for sucb selection by
competent jury commissioners and for the
service of the persons selected for grand
jurors on the traverse jury. It could not
well be asked that any improvement
should be made on a system which con
fines jury service to citizens who are both
upright and intelligent, selected by fair-
minded men from the body of citizens at
large.
It is known, however, that in the coun
ties in which the larger cities are located
complaints of unsatisfactory service have
been made.
It the fanlt Is not in the law, it must ex
ist in its application or the restrictions
which limit the number from which selec
tions are to be made.
• I am clearly of the opinion that the
cause ot complaint exists in the great num
ber of exemptions from this paramount
public duty, which from time to time have
been granted.
The effect of such exemptions, iu certain
localities, is .to place diUhle service en
those citizens not so favored, and some-
linus force the determination of great and
important righis to be had by the super
ficial gnd ill-advised judgment of the leas'.
competent of the selection.
No higher or more important duty de
volves upon the citizen. It should bear
equally aud alike upon all. Public service,
heretofore rewarded by such exemption,
should be compensated in some other way,
that the right of jury trial may be pre
served Til the spirit of fairness and impar
tiality and wilh the intelligence and purity
which will command our highest regard.
BOARD OF HEALTH.
Since your adjournment we liavs been
confronted with conditions imperatively
demanding the enactment of such legisla
tion a3 I had the honor to commend a: yonr
first session, looking to tiie establishment
of a board of health for the state.
More than once, during the past three
years, 1 have been compelled to call upon
the federal authorities to suppress epi
demic and contagious diseases. To do this
it becomes necessary to surrender, abso
lutely, all state control into the hands of
the general government, for the time
being, In opposition to our ideu3 of local
sel.'-eontro!.-
Whilst I have no complaint to make
against the federal authorities assuming
control at my request, I do not think the
policy in harmony with the principles of
our government, nor does ie show proper
care and protection for citizens due them,
primarily, by the state.
Our conditions are such as make us lia
ble to the spread of epidemics among the
people, attended with groat loss of life and
property. These contingencies occur
when the executive is powerless either to
relieve the infected districts or to protect
the state against the spread of disease.
I respectfully recommend and urge the
establishment of a stato board of health
constituted with such authority as will
furnish the needed relief for ihe people
under the conditions indicated.
In this connecion I desire 10 exnress my
full appreciation of the skill and efficiency
of the medical officers in charge cf the
yellow fever sufferers at Brunswick and
Jesup by order ol the general government.
Without the aid thus rendered untold
calamity would have come to the state,
not only in the loss of life and property,
hut in the consternation and alarm that
would have seized upon the people.
Taxpayers in the infected districts—the
counties of Glynn and Wayne—deserve
the fullest sympathy from the state, and I
ask for them the most indulgent consider
ation by the general assembly consistent,
with the public good.
WESTERN AND ATLANTIC RAILROAD.
In the transfer of the state’s property in
the Western and Atlantio railroad from
the former lessees to the control of the
present lessees, I found that the rights of
the state had not been distinctly defined
In many instances and that danger of final
loss was probable because of encroach
ments that would not ba recognized as
sucb, at the expiration of the present lease,
when the property must be returned to
the state.
An iuvesligatiou soon disclosed that the
state had large interests that needed to he
properly defined and established, and the
further fact that the work demanded
would be far more than could ho dis
charged by the attorney general in time to
fully secure the state’s claim*.
I, therefore, recommended the temporary
appointment of a special attorney for this
property, whose duties it should be to
report at this session of the general assem
bly the condition of all the property owned
by the state along the line of road Uml
the authority given by your action at your
first session, I appointed Hon. W. A.
Littie, special attorney for this property.
I have the honor now to submit to you his
report.
The investigation has re quilt d a great
amount of labor and research. Much of
the property had been so long neglected
that the state’s claim was not recognized,
and innocent purchasers, In some instances,
have come to know that they have no title
to the property they have heretofore held
as thoir own.
The service rendered tlie state by this in
vestigation is invaluable, and the report
herewith transmitted makes a showing
greatly creditable to the painstaking and
efficient work of the special attorney and a
statement of conditions gratifying to the
people of the state.
A careful reading of the report wii din*
close the fact that it has not been possible
to determine, finally, all the state’s inter
ests in the time allowed. I would recom
mend tho special attorney continued in bis
investigations until ali the claims in dis
pute are fully and finally determined.
^1 have recently made a personal exam
ination into the physical condition of the
road, and I am pleased to report the prop-
erty greatly improved and well kept. The
state’s interests have been committed to
good bands.
I am in receipt of a letter from the : dje-
tant general of tbe state of Ohio in which 1
am Informed that the legislature of Ohio,
by joint resolution, desire to “ascertain
whether or not the railroad engine known
as ‘General’ count iu any way no secured
by the state of Ohio as a monument to the
bravery of the men known as the ‘Andrews
raiders’ in the late war.”
This application I refer to the general
assembly, recommending that it will lie
far more in accord wilh the spirit of our
people to retain the engine for the state
and place it in some conspicuous place on
the capltol grounds “as a monument :o the
bravery of the Georgia heroes” who res
cued “General” from the bands of the
raiders.
[Then follows the report oi President J.
W. Thomas on the road for the year end
ing June 30 ]
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
Under authority given at yonr first ses
sion the geological board directed the pub
lication of the report of ihe State Gcolt-
gist, Dr. Spencer.
The fund appropriated for this purpose
was not sufficient to cover the necessary
expense for publication by something less
than five hundred dollars.
It was highly important that tlie report
should be published under the supervision
of tLe author, and as Dr. Spencer was
about to retire from the work, the hoard
deemed best to give the report to the puh-
lio printer aud rely upon the general at-
sembly to meet the additional expense by
suitable ajipropriation.
If the report had been delayed until the
necessary legislation could be had, it is
highly probable the work would have
been lost to tho state.
In the opinion of the hoard the interests
ot the stale demanded a new organization
of the survey.
On the 22d of March last the officers in
charge of the survey were requested to
send in their resignations, and cn the 15th
of May following, Professor AY. S. Yeates
was appointed to the position of stato
geologist. As soon thereafter as applica
tions could be properly considered, in con
ference with Professor Yeates, Messrs. S.
AY. McCallie and F. P. King were appoint
ed assistants to the state geologist. Ref
erence to tho accompanying report, sub
mitted by the state geologist, will give an
outline of the survey as now directed by
the department.
STATE LIBRARY.
Quite a number of valuable books be
longing to the state library are not in place
because of lack of space and suitable
shelving.
I respectfully recommend such action as
will put these volumes iu position for use
and reference as well as preservation and
care.
Another matter demanding the immedi
ate attention of the general assemh’y. in
this department, is the purchasing of a
certain number of the cedes oi J882 for
distribution amongst iliose officers of tbe
state who are required by law' to be furn
ished with a code and whose codes have
been Worn out in the use of the past ten
years.
Daily demands are Lrijg made upon the
state librarian for new codes in place oi
those worn out. I am informed that there
are about 100 codes in the hands of the
publishers; in the state libraiy there are
only 200. The law requires 350 cedes to be
kept on hand in the state library for tbe
use of the general assembly and officers of
the different state departments. The 200
now on hand are subject to be drawn upoD
to be issued to tbe justices and notaries of
new districts as they are formed, so that
this supply is being reduced constantly.
Whilst it Is possible that this gt ueral as
sembly will take Bte.ps to publish a new
code, it is not to be expected that the code
:an be published and put into the hands of
the officers of the state much short of
eighteen months or two years, as it is
probable that the commission appointed to
revise the new code, if any steps are taken
in that direction, will be required to report
:o the legislature of 1S94 before the revision
can he adopted. Some slxor eight mouths
will, doubtless, be required to publish tLe
new code after its adoption.
There are no form books on hand to be
issued to new districts or to supply those
which have teen issued and woru out in
service. I would, therefore, respectfully
recommend that 100 codes and 3C0 form
books, if so many can be obtained, be pur
chased at once for tbe use of the officers of
the state.
Section 228 (h) of the code, referring to
the publication of reports, is iu the fol
lowing language: “Wheneverthe librari
an of tbe state shall report to the gover
nor that there are not more than twenty-
five copies of any electrotypod volumes on
hand, ihe governor shall forthwith have
five hundred additional copies struck off,
aud shall draw his warrant upon the
printing fund for the expense thus in
curreo.”
In accordance with this law tbe libra
rian has duly reported to me that the first
ten volumes published by the state, to-
wit, volumes 66 to 75, inclusive, have
reached the point indicated In the statute,
and the 76tli is so near It as to make it
proper lo include lhat volume iu this
recommendation. The statute requires
the publication of 500 copies, but, there
being no funds on hand appropriated for
that purpose, I can only proceed to Jay tho
matter before the general assembly for
such action as to them may seem best
After consultation with ihe state libra
rian, it is my judgment that there is no
necessity for the publication cf more than
one hundred copies of each of the eleven
volumes, from the 66tli to the 76th inclu
sive. I am satisfied that one hundred
copies of each can be published for an
amount not to exceed the sum of $1,300.
Should the general assembly decide to
publish 200, that number would not cost
more than $2,100.1 respectfully recommend
lhat the legislature make the necessary
appropriation based on this calculation,
for the publication of one hundred or two
hundred volumes.
I would further recommend that the
statute above cited be repealed, and that
a provision be made iu its stead, that when
ever the necessity shall arise, the governor
he authorized to make such statement to
the general assembly as may be necessary
In the premises. I would further recom
mend that the general asst mhly fix the
price at which these volumes shall ho sold,
so that the expense of printing and a small
margin over shall he secured to the slate
to cover the incidental expense of postage.
Dr. Robert Battev, a distinguished pbvsi-
cian, resident in this slate, has made a
most valuable contribution to ihe state
library in the donation of a large number
of costly volumes, selected from his privj o
medical library.
These books will form a nucleus for a
large collection of medical works of value,
as a desirable addition to our state library.
The thanks of tlie general assembly are
duo Dr. Batter.
AY. J. Northes,
Give n >r.
THE STATE LEGISLATURE. I establishment of publ
Canton, ana the other t<
Georgia’s Law Mato Assemble at tbe
Capitol.
Routiue of (he House and Senate Brief
ly Reported.
31A NY WOOD BUFFALO.
Plenty of Them North of Kilmonton—
AVIiat Traders Report.
James Muntlie, a representative of Ihe
firm of C’nrstadeu ic Feck, who has just
returned to the city from a business trip
in the West, bringB an interesting bit of
intelligence concerning ihe wood buffalo
of the North. Three years ago, when
Mr. Muudie was at Edmonton, on a trip
similar to tbe one just completed, he
purchased the head of a wood buffalo,
and it was thought at the time that it
was the last one that would ever be
seen, as tlie species was supposed to have
beome practically extinct. Imagine,
then, Air. Mundie’s surprise a week ago
on again visiting Edmonton to find there
one trader with ten heads and another
with twenty robes, and to learn that over
two hundred of the animals had been
killed by Indians this season in the Slave
Lake and Peaoe River district?. In the
lot which Mr. Mundie saw at EdmontOD
was the largest head he had ever seen,
and the robes were of an exceptionally
good quality, the hair being very dark
and grizzly. The traders told him that
some of the animals killed were of such
a gieat size that the Indians were unable
to turn them over, and had to split the
carcasses in two in order to remove the
robes. This is a point worthy of note,
as it has always been stated by those
supposed to know that the wood buffalo
are smaiier than the plain buffalo.
Mr. Secord, the trader who brought
in the robes from the North, had also in
his pack 200 musk ox robes from the
barren lands east of the Mackenzie river.
Another trader brought in 100 ox robe3.
Mr. Secord is the authority lor the state
ment that 200 wood buffalo robes will
reach Edmonton this summer from Slav*
Lake and Peace river.
The question where did these wood
buffalo so suddenly come from now nat
urally suggests itself. The Indians and
traders hat long ago given up hope of
seeing any again. The theory—and a
plausible one it h—which is advanced
by the traders is that the remnant of the
large herds that once roamed through
the prairies and forests of the Northwest
found a feeding ground secluded from
the customary haunts of the Indians and
safe from the Winchesters of the hunters,
and rapidly repleted their decimated
numbers. Last winter the weather was
unusually severe, and in addition to the
heavy cold snow storms prevailed and
thus the animals were driven southward
insearch of food, and wandered in the
track of the Indians, who only too
eagerly rashed among them and slaught
ered them right and left. The heavy
catch of musk ox is accounted for in the
same way, they having been driven
south from their feeding grounds in the
barren lands of hunger. Raw musk ox
robes are selling this year for $40 apiece
at Edmonton.
Mr. Mundie states that Mr. Secord’s
pack of furs was worth $10,000. He had
in the lot no less than six hundred
beaver skins, the finest that have ever
been seen in this country. In fact ail
the fur that is coming from the North
this Lesson is far better than ordinarily,
—|Wiouipeg Free Press.
TBE mu st.
The Geoigia state legislature was
convened at the capitol in Atlanta nt
10 o’clock Wednesday morning, Speak
er Pro Tern Bouifeuiliet, of Bibb, in
the chair. Mr. John Bouifeuiliet, in
calling the house to order, made a few
remarks announcing the illness of
Speaker Atkinson and saving that
he trusted the present session
would be one full of honor to the state.
There were a number of new faces in
the hall when the house met. Since
the last session the hand of death has
been laid upon numerous members of
the house and new men have been
elected to take their places. Then a
new administration has gone into pow
er, and official lightning has stricken
several members, removing them from
their places among the legislators. The
new members were called to the front
soon after the session opened and there
the oath of office was admin
istered by Judge Hunt, of Spalding.
After prayer by the chaplain, Rev. E.
A. Eakes, of Newton, a resolution was
introduced by Smith, of Gwinnett, to
appoint a committee of three to notify
the senate that the house was ready
for business. Messrs. Gumming, Mer-
shon, Martin, Hodges and Fleming
were appointed a committee to act
with the senate committee to notify
the governor that the two houses
awaited his pleasure. Under the
head of new business a number
of uew bills were introduced.
Mr. Ferguson, of Lee, caught the
attention of tlie chair and introduced
the following resolutions, which were
tho sensation of tlie morning session
in the house. Resolved by the gen
eral assembly of Georgia, That our
senators be instructed and representa
tives in congress be requested to use
all honorable means speedily to pro
vide for the restoration of silver to its
constitutional place in the currency of
this republic, and that to that end the
free and unlimited coinagp of silver be
at once provided. Resolved further,
That our senators be instructed and
our representatives in congress re
quested to use all honorable means to
effect the immediate and uncondi
tional repeal of the ten per cent tax
en state banks of issue; and Resolved
further, That the secretary of state be
instructed to forward both of our sen
ators and each of our representatives
in congress a copy of these resolutions.
The resolutions were referred to the
committee on the state of the repub
lic. The house adjourned until 9 n.
m. Thursday.
Thursday* Oct, 26—The most im
portant bill introduced in the house
Thursday morning came from Mr. Os
borne, of Chatham. It is a bill to
amend tbe constitution so that the state
may provide for purchasing the
Central railroad from Atlanta to Sav
annah together with all its apperte-
nances. It also provides that the ex
isting public debt of the stato be in
creased for that purpose. Another
important bill was introduced by Joe
Doolan, also from Chatham county.
It provides for the creation of a
fund to maintain crippled firemen or
the families of firemen killed while in
the discharge of their duties The
^>ill of Mr. Stapleton of sumpter to
make it unlawful to sell cigarettes in
Georgia came up for a third reading.
An effort to table the bill was voted
down, and it was about to be passed
as the report of the committee was
adopted, when it was discovered that
it had only been read twice instead of
three times. It was then laid aside,
but the outlook is that the
bill will jiass when called up
again, and the cigarette will be driven
from Georgia, so far as the house is
concerned. Mr.West, of Hancock, in
troduced a bill making it a felony to
rob a county treasury. There is trou
ble up in Hart county over the dis
pensary located there. Mr. Hart in
troduced a bill to repeal the law es
tablishing this dispensary. “I am only
following the recommendation of the
grand jury,” said he, “for the
dispensary is no good. The keeper
has beeu managing it in a loose
manner and whisky has been given
out on forged orders or certificates. It
has gotten so that anybody can get
whisky from it and we want to be au
thorized to go back to straight prohi
bition.” A large number of new bills
of more or less importance were intro
duced during the session, and then
bills reported on by the committee
last session were taken up and quite a
number were passed. The bill to in
crease the number of supreme court
judges from three to five was called
up and made tbe special order
for Wednesday, November 1st.
The following bills were read the third
time and passed : To authorize banks
and banking companies to loan money
on real estate at 8 per cent; to amend
the act establishing a board of pharma
ceutical examiners ; to amend the local
game law of Chattahoochee county; to
relieve W. W. Wood, of Stewart, an old
one-legged soldier,from taxes imposed
on him for running a pool table when
he was informed that under the law he
was exempt; to prescribe the time and
manner of appointing counsel in crim
inal cases so as to allow time to pre
pare the cases for trial. The house
then adjourned until Friday morning
at 9 o’clock.
schools in
auton, and the other to prevent any
one from riding faster than a walk
over the bridge over Little river, in
Cherokee county. All of the house
bills on the secretary’s desk were read
the first time, as were tlie bills ready
for a second rending. The governor’s
message was then taken up and read,
after which the senate adjourned till
Thursday morning.
Thursday, Oct. 26.—After prayer
and reading the journal Thursday
morning, the senate passed a bill al
lowing the city of Macon to take into
the corporate limits certain lands on
Houston street, Tho roll was called
for introduction of n*w bills and a
number were read firel time: The
governor returned, with his veto, the
senate bill to define the elementary
branches of an English education as
used iu Paragraph 1, Seetlon l, Article
8 of the Constitution. Tho governor
says among other things: “This bill
is contradictory in its provisions, and
its policy would be very hurtful to our
public school system. The bill names
the studies that shall be taught in the
schools, and then authorizes license to
be issued to teachers who upon exam
ination are found to lie incompetent
to teach them.”
TRADE TOPICS.
Much Gain in Hope and a Little in
Bnsiness the Past Week.
R. G. Dun & Co. ’s weekly review of
trade says: There has been much gain
in hope and a little in bnsiness for the
past week. Assurances that the repeal
bill will soon be passed have again been
accepted by traders as a reason for buy
ing things at higher prices for specu
lation ; and with money abundant on
call—$88,000,000 having been received
in New York within ten weeks—specu
lation in stocks and products had an
unusual stimulus and would have ex
panded further but for the continued
embarrassment of industries. Wheat
has risen a quarter of a cent, helped
by heavy foreign purchases and in
spite of better crop prospects. Corn is
nothing stronger. Pork lias been lift
ed so far that another collapse is feared
by some, and petroleum has been ad
vanced one cent. Brazilian speculators
are supposed to be utilizing the bomb
ardment to increase the value of coffee.
With these good signs, there are
some not so good. Renewals of ma
turing notes, to a large extent, are
forced upon the banks, though
practically all the clearing house cer
tificates have been retired at New
York and at Boston. Business is so
slow that merchants are asking for
new loans, and the aggregate of com
mercial indebtedness must still be
large. This shrinkage appears less in
cotton than in some other branches of
manufacturing. During the week
there has been some slight improvement
in tho market for some goods, but some
large mills, which recently resumed,
have stopped again, and while then am
ber reported in operation increases, the
condition of the markets indicatesplaia-
ly that few are working at their full ca
pacity. The reduction of wages has
been general and does not tend to in
crease the consumption of goods. The
starting of the Edgar Thompson works
for two weeks and the announce
ment that the Joliet steel works will
soon start are more hopeful signs. Tho
shipyards and agricultural implemen
makers are increasing thoir purchases
but the demand for building purposes
is remarkably small, and there is that
weakness in barbed wire, wire rods
and steel billets.
The failures for the week number
346 in the United States, against 210
last year, and twenty-nine in Canada,
against twenty-five last year. The
list includes one large bank at Provi
dence and three southern banks, but
the number of other liabilities is some
what less than usual. For the pre
vious week the fall statement of lia
bilities is $5,727,336, against $3,461,
292 for the preceding week.
Chaplain of (he Home Head.
A Washington special says: Rev.
Mr. Haddaway, chaplain of the house
of representatives, died Thursday
morning.
ATLANTA MARKETS.
IN THE SENATE.
The senate was called to order
promptly at 10 o’clock by President
Clay. Nearly every member was in
his seat. The venerable chaplain,
Rev. John Jones, offered a fervent
prayer, nuu at its conclusion tne senate
was ready to proceed with business
just where it left off when it adjourned
on the 15th of last December. Mr.
Corput introduced a resolution that
the president appoint a committee of
three to notify the house of represen
tatives and the governor that the sen
ate had convened aud was ready for
business. Adopted, and Senators
Corput, Edwards' and Robinson were
appointed as the committee. Secretary
Harris called the roll for the intro
duction of new bills, and when lie
called the name of Mr. McAfee lie in
troduced. two, one providing for the
CORRECTED WEEKLY.
Groceries.
Cut tie—Roasted—Arbuckle’s 24.60 (8 100 lb.
cases,I,ion 24.60a, Loveriug’s 24.60c. Green—Ex
tra choice S2j; choice good 21c; fair 20c; com
mon 18a 9;. Sugar—Granulated 6c; off
granulated-; powdered 6%c; cut loaf G5s; white
extra C tj^cjNew Orleans yellow clarified
5%5%c; yellow extra C 4>4a45fe. Symp—Now
Orleans choieo 45c-, primo 35@40c; common
20@30o. Molasses—Genuine Cuba 35@33c;imi-
tation 22@25. Teas—Black 35@55c; greau
40@60e. Nutmegs 65®85.'. Cloves 25(5>30c.
Cinnamon lO(SV2%o. Allspice 10@llc. Jamai
ca.ginger 18c. Singapore pepper 12c; Mace
$1.00. Rice, Head 6c; good 5%c; common
i%e; imported Japan 5(g5%o. Salt—Hawley’s
dairy $1.50; Virginia 75c. Cheese—flats 12/*al4.
White fish, li ilf bbln. $4 00; pails 60c;
Mackerel, half barrels, $6.00a8.50. Soap,
Tallow, 100 bars, 75 lbs $3.00*3.75.
tmpentine, 6) bars, 60 lbs, $2.25 a 2.50;
Candies—Para fine ll%c; star lie. Matches—
400s $4 00; 300s $3 00a3 75; 200s $2 00a2 75; 60s
5grosa $3 75. Soda-Kegs, bulk 4%c; do 1 !l> pkgs
5%c; cases, 1 lb 5J<c, do 1 and %lbs 8e, (\o%lb
lty$c. Crackers—XXX soda 63^0; XXX butter
6%c; XXX pearl oysters 6c: shell and excelsior
7c; lemon cream 9c; XXXginger snaps Lie; corn-
hills 9c. Candy—Assorted stick French
mixed 13c. Canned goods—Condensed Milk,
$6 00a8 00; imitation mackerel $3 95a4 00. Sal
mon $5 25a5 50: F. W. oysters $180; B W
$135; corn $2 50 a 3 50; tomatoes $2.10
Ball potash $3 20. Starch—Pearl 4c, Lump
4 -s, ; nickel packages $3 00; celluloid $5.00.
pickles, plain or mixed, pints $1 OOal 40; quarts,
$! 50al 80. Powder—Rifle, kegs $3-50; f^kegs,
$2 00; % kegs St 15. Shot $1 65 per sack.
Flour. Grain and Ileal.
Flour—First patont $5 00; second patent
$4.75; extra fancy $3.70 ; fancy $3 60; family
$8.10j$3 25. Corn—No. I white 62c. Mired,
59c. Oats, Mixed 42j; white 44;; Texas rust
proof 50c. Seed rye, Georgia 75a80c.
Hav—Choice timothy, large hales, $1.00
No. 1 timothy, large bales, $1.00; choice
timothv. small bales, 95c; No. 1 timothy, small
bales, 90c; No. 2 timothy, small bales, 85c.
Meal—Plain Glc; bolted 57c. Wheat bran—
Large sacks 95c, Bmali sacks 95c. Cotton-
:eeil meal—$1 3'J per cwt. Steam feed—$1.10
per cwt. Stock peas G0a65o per bn. White,
60a65. Boston beans $2.65a2.75 per bushel.
Tennessee, $1.75a 2.0LI. Grits—Pearl $3.30.
Uonntrv Produce.
Eggs 17al8c Butter—Western oreamery
25a27]4c choice Tennessee I8a20c; other grades
12j.4al.5e. Live poultry-Turkeys 10(S)12j4c per
lb; liens 25 and 28c. spring chickens
large 20a$2/4c; small spring 10al2]4'J. Dressed
poultry—Turkeys 15al8c ; ducks 15c; chick
ens 12%al5. Irish potatoes, 2.50@2.75per-
bbi. Sweet potatoes 45a50o per bu. Honey-
Strained 8al0c; in the oomb iOalJVi 0 - Onions
$1 00 a$l 10 per bu.
Providian?.
Clear rib sides, bexed lOJfc, ice-cured bellies
14c. .Sugar-cured hams 12%al5c. according
to brand and average; California, lOJ^c. break
fast bacon 15al7c. Lard, Leaf It % .Compound
8%.
C'OltOII.
Dund—Market Steady, HUhJlinj 7 13-lOe,