The Vienna progress. (Vienna, Ga.) 18??-????, October 31, 1893, Image 1

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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 The signs “Barber Shop,” “Shaving Parlor,” “Tonsorial Studio” have all gone out of date with a Pittsburg hair dresse?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,