Newspaper Page Text
w Series—Vol. Ill—No 39
OURMISERABLE ROADS
Salty Talk by the Grand Jury-
Commissioners Returned.
We, the grand jury, chosen and
sworn for the July term, 1904,
Bartow superior court, beg leave
to submit the following as a part
of our general presentments of our
labors for the present week, and
recommend that the same be pub
lished in the News and Courant.
We recommend the appointment
of I. Y. Davis as notary public and
ex-officio justice of the peace for
the 1425th district G. M., and John
W. Edwards for appointment as
notary public and ex-officio justice
of the peace for the 14715 t district
G. M.
We have elected John H. Wikle
} member of the county board dt
education for Bartow county, to
£ll the vacancy caused by the
death of Col. J. G. M. Montgomery.-
We find the roads of the county
in deplorable condition, and it is
eviaeut the authorities having this
important matter in charge, the
county and district commissioners,
and the overseers, have been very
negligent. We therefore present
the road commissioners of each
district in the county for neglect
of duty, and ask that the necessa
ry proceedings be had to bring
them before the court to answer
for their neglect, as provided by
law. We would suggest, however,
that in the event the district road
commissioners have the roads put
in good condition by the time the
October term of the court convenes,
and have performed faithfully all
their duties, they be relieved of
the penalties for former neglect of
duty. It is the purpose of this
jury at the October term to inquire
into the conduct of the road over
seers of the county, and where it
appears they have been negligent
and.failed in discharging their sev
eral duties it wall be our duty to
indict them under the statute in
such cases made and j rovided.
We find that most of the public
roads in the county have been en
croached upon by fences and culti
vation. This is a violation of law.
We call the attention of the county
and district commissioners and
overseers to this, and demand that
they have all such obstructions
removed at once, and the roads
• cleared to the lawful width, ac
cording to the class of the road,
which classification is of record at
the court house.
We find that the alternative road
law as embodied in sections 573 to
583,inclusive, Vol. I. Code of Geor
ia. is ef force in Bartow county,
and that said law, as it now stands,
is ample to thoroughly work the
roads; that the county authorities
are clothed with full power and
authority to secure good substan
tial roads, and all we need is a
strict enforcement of this law.
The supreme court has decided
that law constitutional. Under
this, the county commissioners can
levy a road tax, work a chain gang,
require ten days’ work from each
person subject to road duty, or col
lect a commutation tax of not ex
ceeding five dollars per annum
from each; or for failure to appear
and do faithful work may fine
defaulters, or imprison or work
them in county chain gang not
exceeding ninety days. This pen
alty can be imposed for failure to
appear, or failure to do faithful
work after appearing, at the time
and place for road working. Some
how the opinion prevails among
'some people that we have no road
laws that can be enforced: that
road hands cannot be compelled to
work, nor furnish the common
tools therefor; that they can shirk
their duty generally without being
subject to any penalty. This is a
very great mistake, and the sooner
at is understood the better it will
THE NEWS AND COURANT.
be for the county and the roads.
The laxity that has prevailed is
inexcusable, and should not longer
be tolerated.
On page 41 of the acts of 1903
will be found a law providing for
the punishment of county and
road commissioners and overseers
for neglect of duty by the judge of
the superior court. This can be
put in motion upon complaint of
one or more citizens. It would be
well if some of our suffering
people would resort to this law
in our extremity.
We find that it is not the want
of road laws, or power to enfotce
them, that is in the way, but the
neglect of the authorities having
these matters in charge.
We-recommend that the coutitv
commissioners put the county con
victs on the public rqds as early
as practicable, and first work the
worst places; that, as soon as they
can, arrangements be made to take
state convicts under the new law
providing for this, and organize a
chain gang for permanent road
work, in connection with the other
modes provided by law.
We have touched upon the mat
ter of roads so earnestly because
the necessities ot the case required
it. This question of good roads is
so important that it should enlist
the attention and heartv co-opera
tion of every good citizen, it has
been too long neglected; there is
no better time for reform than now.
Give us better roads is the cry of
the public. This grand jury has
determined to do its duty as it sees
it and as required by their oaths.
Let the law be enforced, and our
public roads will cease to be a
shame and disgrace to us.
We recommend that the county
commissioners make a rule requir
ing the commutation tax to be paid
when the hand is summoned, so
that the overseer may have time to
ptovide a hand in his place.
We request our members in the
general assembly to use their efforts
to amend the alternative road law
so as to provide a commutation
tax of not less than one dollar per
day. This, in our opinion, would
be just and equitable, inasmuch as
the price of labor has advanced
considerably in the last few years.
Thomas Lumpkin, Foreman.
James W. Knight, Clerk,
POSTOFFICE ROBBED.
Office at Calhoun Entered aad Cash and
Stamps Were Taken.
The postoffice at Calhoun was
entered by burglars Saturday night
and the safe blown open with nitro
glycerine.
About two hundred dollars in
cash and six hundred dollars worth
of stamps were taken. The burglars
secured a heavy sledge, cold chisel
and other tools from the black
smith shop of Henry How’ell. With
these they entered the building
and hammered off the knob of the
safe door. They then drilled a
small hole through the safe dooV
and blew it open by means of nitro
glycerine. It is supposed that the
robbery was committed by experi-
blowers. Agents of the
government are making efforts to
apprehend the burglars.
Death of an Infant.
'The death of little Lewis Mon
fort Adair, the six-months-old son
of Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Adair, oc
curred at their home Tuesday
morning at 3:30 o’clock. The lit
tle one had been sick for several
weeks with stomach trouble.
The funeral services were con
ducted from the home Wednesday
morning at 9:30 o’clock by Rev. T
J, Christian.
Mr. J. A. Stover, of Atlanta,
peut last Saturday in the city.
GAKTERSVILLE, GEORGIA, THURSDAY, JULY 21, 1904.
ATLANTA PROPERTY
Louisville and Nashville
Makes Purchases.
%
DEALS BEING CLOSED.
Consideration Said to be $400,000
—Question of Parallelling
the State Road.
Within the last few months Mr.
D. F. McClatchey, of Marietta,
acting for the Louisville and Nash
ville, has secured options upon a
number of pieces of property, ag
gregating between twenty and
thirty acres, says the Atlanta cor
respondent of the Macon Tele
graph. This property,when thrown
into one tract, will make a strip
of laud extending from the south
ern limits of the city of Atlanta to
the site or the new passenger de
pot on Mitchell street. The pur
chase price of the whole amounts
to about $400,000, and yesterday
Mr, McClatchey commenced taking
up the options and paying over
the money to the former owners of
the property. It is said that all of
the transfers will be made wtthin
the next week or ten days. A cit
izen of Cobb county, who claims
to be on the inside of whai is going
on. says that it is the intention ot
the Louisville and Nashville to
build a line from Wetmore, on the
Atlanta, Knoxville and Northern,
which property was a short time
ago purchased by the Louisville
and Nashville, to Dalton, a dis
tance of about thirty miles, and
that the same company would then
construct a line to Cartersville and
then op to Atlanta. This author
ity says that the Louisville and
Nashville desires to own a line
Into Atlanta and an entrance into
GREAT SPEECH OF HON. JOHN W. AKIN.
No man in the Georgia legislature has more impressed him
self upon that body and upon the state than Bartow’s able and
brilliant representative, Hon. John W. Akin. Richly gifted,
always ready and always equal to the occasion, he has long since
become recognized as one of the ruling forces in the law-making
body of the state.
It did one good tc hear his masterly speech in support of the
Joe Hill Hall railroad bill last Wednesday morning. Hon. Joe
Hill Hall had spoken vehemently for his bill and Hon. Jack
Slaton had spoken with equal vehemence against it. A number
of other members had asked questions, and there was more or
less disorder and lack of interest manifested by the body of the
house, but when the gentlerca i from Bartow arose at his seat
and said calmly and quietly that he had not intended to be drawn
into the discussion, but the trend of things had forced him into
it, there was perfect quiet and it could clearly be seen that the
entire house was following the speaker with eager expectancy.
With a finger pointing dramatically upward, Judge Akin ex
claimed : “The question before the house is not one ot mere
discrimination in freight rates as the gentleman from Fulton
would have you believe, but it is whether or not the state shall
exercise control over her highways—whether Georgia is a sov
ereign state or the mere province of a consolidated empire ! ’’
The speech thrilled-and captured the house. It could clearly
be seen before Judge Akin bad finished that the members were
with him. His masterly effort had saved the bill from more
than probable defeat, and when the vote was taken the bill was
passed by an overwhelming majority. I bad strolled into the
gallery by accident and paused to listen when I saw the gentle
man from Bartow rise to speak. I was soon captivated. So
were all those about me.
“Who is that little fellow speaking, anyhow'?” asked one
looker-on of his neighbor.
“Oh, that’s John W- Akin, of Bartow.” was the reply.
“Well, he is badly out of place in the Georgia legislature,”
returned the other. “He ought to be in the United States Sen
ate.” j. A. H.
the new union passenger depot,
now being constructed by the At
lanta Terminal Company, acting
for the Southern. He says that
the Louisville and Nashville
neither wishes to buy the Western
and Atlantic nor secuie an exten
sion of the lease on that property
now held by the Nashville, Chat
tanooga and St. Louis. This much
information is given to the readers
of the Telegraph for what it is
worth. Whether the movement is
intended to depress the value of
the state’s property no one here
EARLY HORNING FIRE
The Gilreath-Jones Build
ing is Consumed.
PARTIAL INSURANCE.
Water Supply Low Prevents Quick
Extinction of the Flames
—Of the Losses-
The Jones-Gilreath building, on
West Main street was destroyed
by fire last Saturday morning.
The alarm was given at about
2:30 o’clock and there was a prompt
response by the firemen and the
continuous ringing of the fire bell
brought a large crowd to the scene.
There was no water in the tower
and the fire burned without any
means of checking it for half an
hour when a feeble stream with
such force as the pumping process
alone could give was put on the
flame.
From the lack of combustibles in
the building and the heavy fire
walls, the fire proved to be easily
controlled and confined to the one
building the roof of slate finally
falling in and assisting the water in
distinguishing the fire.
The fire is supposed to have
caught in the pool room of Morton
Payne in the second story. The
pool tables and furniture were well
nigh ruined.
Madison Milam, who occupied
the east half of the lower floor, got
most of his goods out. His insur
ance was S3OO and losses SIOO or
more.
Mr. M, H. Gilreath, w-ho owned
half the building, estimates his
loss at SI,OOO with no insurance.
Mrs. Lizzie Jones owned the other
half and her loss was partially
covered by insurance.
seems to be in position to say with
any degree of positiveness.
A state house official while run'
ning his eyes over a map today
said that he could not see how the
Louisville and Nash\ ille could
build a line to Atlanta, and get
around the provision prohibiting
one line paralleling another within'
a distance of ten miles, except at
the terminals of the property. He
argued that if the Southern would
not stop the construction of such
a line the state would do so in the
event that the value of the West
ern and Atlantic was endangered
A BEAUTIFUL JEWEL
The Pythian Order of Georgia’s
Gift to C. M. Milam.
Be it Resolved, by the Grand Lodge
Knights of Pythias of Georgia:
That a rising vote of thanks be
extended by this Grand Lodge to
Grand Chancellor C. M. Milam for
the efficient and valuable service ren
dered by him to this Grand Lodge
and to the order throughout the
Grand Domxin.
We further recommend that this
Grand Lodge purchase an appropri
ate Past Grand Chancellor's Jewel
and that the same be fittingly in
scribed and presented to our worthy
retiring Grand Chancellor.
The above is from the proceed
ings of the Grand Lodge Knights
of Pythias of Georgia and tells its
own story. The resolution was
adopted unanimously. The great
compliment in the recognition
of the ability of Mr. Milam as the
head of the order in GeTrgia, whom
the organ or the order in Georgia
calls “the best Grand Chancellor
who ever held that office in this
Domain,’’ is not alone shared by
Mr Milam but by his Pythian
C. M. MILAM.
brethren at home and his home
people in general.
The Jewel bestowed upon him
by the order is a beautiful emblem
and is enclosed in a very handsome
case.
The following letter accompan
ied the Jewel:
Savannah, Ga., July 18, 1 !#O4.
Hon. C. M. Milam, Past Giand Chan
cellor, Cartersville, Ga.
My dear Bro. Milam:—l forwarded
to you on the 16th, inst., by regis
tered mail a Pt s Grand Chan
cellor’s jewel, as the gift of the
Grand Lodge for the efficient and
valuable services rendered our noble
order.
It gives the writer much pleasure
to send you the jewel, and it was by
unanimous rising vote that the pre
sentation was made.
Your labors have been many, and
bore more fruit than any predcess
or in the history of Georgia in the
advancement of our cause.
The Pythians of our Domain trust
that many days will be granted you,
wearing the jewel for the further
progress of Pythianism.
With kind regards, and well wishes,
I am, Fraternally yours,
Wm. H. Lkopold, G K. It. S.
For a number of years before he
ascended to the head of the order
in Georgia, but while he was the
head of the lodge in Cartersville
his brethren were aware of his
ability. He has ever been an un
tiring worker, loving the work and
mauaging every detail, even to the
minutest, with the most consum
mate skill and superior judgment.
The great growth of the lodge
in Cartersville to that point where
it has been recognized as one of
the very best in the state, it is not
too much to say, has been due to
Mr. Milam's superior guidance.
As Grand Chancellor of the state
he has evinced that ability he was
known to possess to the great up
lifting of the order. During his
regrime some of the knottiest
questions ever arising have come
up for consideration and he has
handled them in a w f ay to invoke
the endorsement of the Grand
Lodge.
The proceedings of che Grand
Lodge and the journalsof the order
teem with facts complimentary
to Mr. Milam’s regime.
We append a few:
Old Series— 25th Year
The Pythian Tribune, of Chicago,
says:
While it is not our purpose here to
enter into any discussion of the sub
ject 111a ter, (though, whenever we do,
we have a complete file of the docu
ments, ) yet we can say that in dispos
ing of the difficulty, which at one
period reached the acute stage, Grand
Chancellor Milam demonstated that
he was big enough to deal with a
question, absolutely without bias,
and dv'cide it according to law.
Instead of allowing ni high office to
be used as an instrument of injustice,
or himself as a tool or jimmy by
which Pythian burglary could be
accomplished fas in one flagrant
instance ‘ ere,) he followed the line of
duty irrespective of the falling of the
chips, and did right first. But then,
Brother Milam is a splendid Pythian
and citizen, and not a eeature.
When the questions involved came
before the Grand Lodge of Georgia,
Grand Chancellor Milam was unan
imously sustained.
The Pyihian Lodge Secret says:
Never in the history of the order in
Georgia, if in any other Grand Do
main, has a Grand Chancellor more
justly earned the title of Past Grand
Chancellor. *****
Whateyer any individual or individ
uals may have done during the past
year, Grand Chancellor Milam was
the guiding spirit and he alone
should receive due credit for the good
accomplished. * * * *
The history of his aiministration
should be written tip, as an incentive
for the future, and we hope to men
tion at various times some of the in
teresting incidents in connection with
his work. * * * *
The vitality and energy displayed
especially during the closing part of
his ad ini Jstration, caused the insti
tution of new lodges at such a rapid •
rate that one was actually left out
and had to be instituted the day after
ti.e Grand Lodge adjourned. He had
the Grand Lodge officers on the
move, he had individual memoers on
the move; no general in command ot
any army ever displayed greater tac
tics in Htrising at the vital parts to
accomplish the greatest results.
What the Grand Keeper of
Records and Seals said about the
Grand Chancellor:
My report would not be complete
without making special and particu
lar reference to the magnificent work
accomplished by our retiring Grand
Chancellor. Brother Milam has
served the Order faithfully, energeti
cally and wisely; he has given the
Domain the greatest number ot
Lodges ever instituted in its history;
his administration has been a busy
one from the date he was installed as
our Grand Chancellor, and we will
miss him when his successor is elect
ed and he lavs down the gavel as the
executive head of our Order.
S. M. GALLOWAY DIES.
Passes Awav Tuesday Afternoon, at the
Home of his Daughter.
Mr. Samuel M. Galloway died
at the home of his daughter, Mrs.
Fred Gresham, at 6:15 o'clock
Tuesday afternoon, of acute
Brights disease.
With his wife he had came up a
few days ago from Atlanta, where
he has been making his home for
the last six years, intending to
make a short visit, hoping for
physical benefits from the change,
having been in declining health
for the last few years. He was taken
suddenly very ill Monday night.
He never rallied from the attack.
He was 53 years old. He was a
nephew of and was reared by that
well known late citizen, Col. M.
G. Dobbins. His wife was Miss
Charlotte Milner. She survives him,
as also do their five children, Mrs.
Fred Gresham, Tom, Clarence,
Sam aud Miles Galloway.
Mr. Galloway has held govern
ment positions, which he has filled
faithfully, since he attained man
hood. He was a member of the
Baptist church.
His funeral will occur tomorrow,
Rev. W. A. Cleveland officiating,
Mr. Monroe Neel and Miss
Juliette Neel, spent Sunday m
Adairsville.