Newspaper Page Text
The Cartersville Courant-American.
VOL. VIII.
EAST k WEST R. R. OF ALA.
co l c. P. Ball, the New Receiver
Installed.
I -hoit Talk About This Great Knterprise
— Tlie Hoad to be Improved—Opin
ions of a Practical Man.
\ CoruANT-A.MKRICAN reporter found
Vnl. Ball busily engaged at his office in
Last A West Railroad building, and
a-ked him for any information in regard
to the road that would be of interest to
the general public.
“Of course/’ said Hall, “my first
business will be to learn by personal ob
servation, the exact status of the prop
erty in all its departments.”
• Ha ve you looked over the property?”
• | have been over the line, but when it
comes to inspecting a railroad line, the
track, the rolling stock, the business
doing. the field for development, etc., it
requires time.”
• What is the nature of the improve
ments contemplated on the road?”
W That is a matter to be determined
hereafter. 1 have formed no opinion as
to the best tiling to Lie done, with a view
to guarding the interests of those who
have their rnonev in the property; nor
can 1 until a thorough inspection has
bom given the entire property. My ap
pointment was made with a view to the
improvement oft he property. The nature
and extent of the improvement will be
decided upon and recommended to the
court as soon as I have determined what
to recommend after the investigation.
The road will be put in good condition
every way as it is. As suggested, it will
require some time to place myself in a
position to make intelligent recommen
dations as to what should be done.”
In further casual conversation, we
gathered that Col. Hall had been actively
engaged in railroad work ever since 1865.
He has- the business down fine, having
experience in every branch of it. He
served four years on the State Railroad
Commission of Alabama, and had much
to do with the general shaping up of the
railroad business of that State, which is
noiv in such a prosperous condition.
Hie Last & West is not the first rail
road that Col. Hall has taken hold of
with a view to the improvement of the
koperty. He took hold of the Alabama
rdreat Southern as general manager, at a
time when the earnings of the road
amounted to about $12,000 per month.
The business of the road rapidly increased,
and now earns SIOO,OOO per month.
Wo found Col. Hall a gentleman easily'
approached and pleasing in address. He
is evidently a systematic business man,
given more to action than words. We
predict for the East & West an era of in
creasing,- prosperity under his able man
agement.
We met the familiar faces of the former
headsofdepartments at their accustomed
posts, and everything moving along like
well regulated machinery.
riieintiuense mineral and timber wealth
along t ho line of this road, when properly
developed, will render it one of the most
important lines in the country, and we
feel sure that it will ere long be found
necessary to make it a broad gauge.
In answer to questions on that point,
I "I. Ball said it was not the policy of the
mauageau-nt to makeahy changes in the
"oiKiag force of the road, further than
bid already been made. The men were
acquainted with their duties, capable and
efficient, and as long as this continued
trui* there would be no need for changes.
1:1 ivgard to the two changes that had
made, he said that Roadmaster
•citrell and Master Mecli mic Nortlicutt,
"ere not- removed because of any per-
ISolla l objection or lack of ability, so far
ns they professed to be qualified, but in
) le 'vol thelargeexpenditures to be made
II these departments, it was deemed nec
tary to have men of a larger scope of
experience, and the new appointees are
lijen who have filled like positions with
him elsewhere. He spoke in the kindest
1 nils of the gentlemen removed, and
lM ‘" , nt3<i to regret to part with them.
. no * H. Chapman, the new road master,
ls Lilian of large experience on leadiug
lai ' wa y lines, and an accomplished en
gineer.
( • lh Wall, the new master mechanic,
I' ts filled the same position on the At
ailta & Charlotte Air-Line, and other
C'portant roads. He has been with Col.
1,111 hi other Helds, and is a man of skill
,ll!, l thorough accomplishments in his
line.
copy the following from the Mont-
Daily Dispatch, published at the
of Col. Ball:
t ( ol - Chas. P. Ball, who was appointed
of the East & West Railroad of
by Ifou. Don A. Pardee, in New
hDana on the 15th inst., returned to the
u .v yesterday from his trip of inspection
° Ver the line of railroad which has been
hhiced under his control.
hi a conversation with a Dispatch re-
Porter yesterday. Col. Ball said : “1 left
Ues< lay via Atlanta and reached Car
l' tHv ille, Ga., one terminus of the road.
I(, tn Cartersville I went to Cedartown,
where 1 spent a day, theu resumed my
journey to Pell City, the Western termi
nus of the road, on the Georgia Pacific,
about thirty-five miles East of Birming
ham. 1 made the trip over the road with
a view ot becoming acquainted with the
officers and management, and to make a
casual examination of the country and
of the physical condition of the track in
so far as the circumstances under which
I traveled would permit. . •
“I have not yet decided at what point
I will establish my headquarters, pre
ferring not to decide this question until
after a more thorough examination of
the property, and until I familiarize
myself with its requirements.
“The line runs through a very fine min
eral deposit as well as through the South
ern end oftheCoosa coal field. Ores from
points on the line of the road arc now
used at Anniston, and ho ddhbt when
this interest is more freely developed, a
ready market will be found for the splendid
ores along the line, in the Birmingham
district. In addition to the rich mineral
section, the road traverses a fine agri
cultural country.”
Col. Hall is one of the best known rail
road men in the South, and his record in
active work has always been marked by
success. He has been in railroad service
for over twenty years. lie served in the
following important positions: Assist
ant superintendent of the Mobile & Mont
gomery road ; superintendent of the Wes
tern road; superintendentoftheSouthern
Pullman Car Company and superintend
ent of the Alabama Great Southern.
Later he served for four years as one of
the associate railroad commissioners of
the State of Alabama-. Within the past
few years, Col. Hall filled an important
position with the Tennessee Coal, Iron
Ac Railroad Company.
Railroad official!, who are acquainted
with Col. Hall speak highly of his ability
as a manager, and say that Judge Par
dee's selection of him to till the position
of receiver of the East & West is as good
a selection as could have been made.
Two Substitutes for Jute Bagging.
It now seems that the bagging trust
will prove a blessing to the cotton grow
ing section, as it promises to develop
important industries which have been
heretofore unthought of or considered
impracticable
Cotton bagging was first manufactured
as a substitute for jute, and it was found
to stand every test satisfactorily. The
only objection found to the use of this
substitute was its cost. Hut this objec
tion can be removed. The baggingeould
be made from inferior grades of cotton
and, after being used, reduced back to
cotton fibre. The cost of this process
would not exceed one and a half cents a
pound and the injury to the staple would
be slight. The farmer would get the
benefit, of this process, and would not be
compelled to pay tor the transportation
of jute bagging, as he now does, with
out. getting any return, as the jute is
comparatively worthless after it has
once been usei and subjected to the
abuses of shipping and rough handling.
Another point is that should this bag
ging ever come into general use, the de
mand for cotton will be largely increas
ed and, in consequence, better prices will
obtain.
Pine straw, the second substitute for
jute bagging, has passed all of the tests
and inspections in this country and it is
very certain that it. will be favorably re
ceived in Liverpool. This being finally
established, factories for the manufac
ture of pine straw bagging will be built
all over the South and millions of dol
lars will be kept at home that have been
annually sent abroad for jute in the past.
Nor is it likely that the use of pine straw
will be confined to the baling of cotton.
It will be devoted to the manufacture of
rugs, mats, carpeting and similar purpo
ses that may be developed by further
experiments.
Between pi nest raw and cotton bagging
it is not likely that the farmers of the
cotton growing section will again be im
posed upon by the jute bagging trust.
A Pittsburg scientist is trying to make
people believe that the goat and the
devil are intimately related. “The goat
is a mischievous animal," he says. “The
devil is a mischievous being. The goat
and the devil are related. There is
another similarity—goats have horns,
hoofs and a tail, all of which the devil is
popularly supposed to wear." Whether
this is a libel on the goat or against his
Satanic Majesty it is pretty hard to
determine.
The tramps out in Ohio have hit upon
anew and as yet very successful begging
scheme. One enters a house, saying that
he has been looking for work all the
morning, but has not sue eeded in find
ing any, and offers to buy a few slices of
bread and butter. When lie receives it.
he searches in his coat to find the money.
Much to his apparent amazement, he
discovers that it has fallen out of a hole
in Ins pocket, and lie offers to return the
food. His offer is never accepted, and he
gets a good meal, besides lots of sympa
thy for his loss.
CARTERSVILLE, GA., THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1888.
DEATH IN A COAL MINE.
Explosion of a “Gas Feeder”-Fatal
Results.
Seventeen Men Killed and Wounded—
Ureadful Accident Against Which
No Care Could Guard.
Williamsport, Pa., Nov. -I.—Officers
of the Kettle Creek Coal Mining Company
belonging in this city are in receipt of in
formation that a terrible explosion oc
curred at their mines located in Clinton
county on the line of the Philadelphia &
Erie railroad last evening. Superintend
ent George L. Miller upon hearing a
heavy report tit tlie new No. 2 drift pro
ceeded to the spot, when he at once saw
that a violent explosion had taken place.
Necessary arrangements were quickly
made to carry air to the face of work
and men ordered to the mine to learn
the particulars of what had occurred.
AN APPALLING STATE OF AFFAIRS
was found inside. Of twenty-one men
who bad been working in the drift, only
three or tour had escaped death or injury.
At the end of an hour's hard work four
teen dead bodies were recovered from the
drift, and two of those who were injured
subsequently died. One man was miss
ing, and his remains were found out in
the woods where they had been blown bv
the force of the explosion through the
air shaft. The total number of killed or
fatally injured was found to be seventeen,
and all but four of them were Hungarians
or Italians. A driver named J. Farrel
was entering the drift when the explosion
occurred. He was thrown to the mouth
and escaped, but his mule was killed.
THE FORCE OF THE EXPLOSION
was shown in the fact that bodies were
blown clear out of the mouth of the drift.
Everything possible was done for the in
jured by the mine physicians. The bodies
of the dead were taken charge of by an
undertaker and prepared for interment.
The coroner of the county was notified
and will hold an inquest tomorrow. The
mine inspector of the district has also
been summoned, but at latest reports he
had not arrived.
A dispatch from the superintendent
this evening states that there is nothing
new m reference to the disaster. They
have all the help they require and are
preparing for the inquest, (’apt. Bly,
the president and other officers of the
company will leave here tomorrow for
the scene of the disaster.
Although the accident occurred before
dark yesterday it was not given out by
the officials of the company here until
today, they having been advised of it
last night.
A GAS FEEDER.
It is thought that in making a blast a
“gas feeder” was struck, filling the cham
ber with gas, which coming in contact
with a naked lamp produced the explo
sion. A “gas feeder” is a pocket of gas
imbedded in coal. As soon as a pick is
struck into it the gas escapes, and if
anything lights it an explosion is sure to
follow. It is generally conceded that
there was good ventilation and the mines
were well supplied with air appliances.
The superintendent says the accident
could not have been foreseen and that
no blame attaches to any one.
To the Voters of Bartow County.
We are glad to see so many of our
patriotic friends ready to serve the peo
ple in collecting the state and county
tax. We of the 16th dist. claim the
right to that office this term as we have
nevef had one. We have placed before
the people for that office a man that can
not be excelled in the county for merit,
in the person of Mr. Joseph Shaw. He
was raised an orphan, and had no rela
tives, yet by his untiring energy he at
tained a good English education, taking
a business course in Moore's university
at Atlanta, and sold goods for W. A.
Gillani of Kingston, making a good
and efficient clerk, winning the respect and
confidence of all who knew him. All
who know him will vouch for him plac
ing every dollar of people’s money as the
law directs. We expect almost a solid
Vote for him in the 16th and 17th dist,,
and we heartily commend him to every
voter who lias not committed himself.
Citizens.
The Gas Works.
The prospectus of the Cartersville Gas
and \\ ater Company has been issued.
There is only one copy in the city and a
Courant-American man got a sly glance
at it the other day, notwithstanding the
declaration that the work was not yet
ready for the public eye. The prospectus
is a fine advertisement for the city, as it
sets forth our advantages in very effec
tual style, reciting the many inducements
offered the capitalist and home seeker.
It states that the lights will be put on on
or before the Ist of March, 1880. Mi-.
Blaisdell, of the company, will probably
be here by the 15th. Of familiar names
among the officials we notice that of E.
E. Ereeman, president, Jno. T. N< rris,
assis t treasurer and Jno. W. Akin,
attorney.
THE W. & A. LEASE.
The Property of the State of tleorgia in
Chattanooga Probably to be Sold.
Chattanooga Tiroes, Nov. 4.
Hon. Win. Glenn, a leading member of
the Georgia legislature, and a gentleman
who gained national fame as the author
of the Glenn bill which created such ex
citement in Georgia last year, was in the
city yesterday. Mr. Glenn is one of the
committee appointed to investigate’ the
Western & Atlantic lease. The legislature
meets on Wednesday next and the pre
liminary negotiations wiH be set on foot
looking to the disposition ot the road.
The present lease expires in 1890, but it
will be necessary to close whatever ar
rangements are to be made during the
coming session. Chattanooga is not
only interested in who will secure pos
session of the road, but is specially con
cerned in the disposition to be made of
the property owned by the State in this
city. The State owns one of the finest
tracts in Chattanooga, lying along Ninth
and Market streets. It extends 1,400
feet on Market and 343 feet on Ninth.
It is at present occupied by the freight
depot and warehouse and the freight
tracks of the Western A Atlantic. This
land is variously estimated to be worth
$500,000 to $750,000. It is generally
conceded by the members of the legisla
ture who have visited the city that this
tract is nut at all necessary to the rail
road company and that its business can
be as easily carried on by removing the
freight depot to less valuable laud
owned by the State about the city.
Air. Glenn states that in offering the
road for lease, the State will undoubtedly
dissever from tiie lease all property in
the city that is not essential and will
almost certainly offer the tract above
mentioned for sale. By the extension of
Georgia avenue through this tract, it will
be increased fully 25 per cent, in value.
The people of Georgia are not gener
ally aware that their total owning in the
city of Chat tan oga is not far from sl,-
000.000, and in the disposition of the
railroad this possession will cut an im
portant figure. If the tract at present
used in the heart of the city for railroad
purposes can be converted to business
uses, it would change entirely the ap
pearance of our city and prove an im
portant factor in its more rapid develop
ment.
The Cotton Movement.
The New York Financial Chronicle says
that for the week ending last Friday the
total receipts have reached 279,536 bales,
against27o,7o7bales last week, 263,263
bales the previous week and 250,644
bales three weeks since, making the total
receipts since the first of September,
1888, 1,557,649 bales, against 2,038,74 5
bales for the same period of 1887, show
ing a decrease since September 1, 1888,
of 481,096 bales.
The exports for the week reach a total
of 188,830 bales, of which 114,630 were
to Great Britain, 16,159 to France and
58,041 to the rest of the continent.
The total receipts from the plantations
since September 1, 1888, are 1,764,176
bales; in 1887 were 2,316,876 bales; in
1886 were 1,847,090 bales. Although
the receipts at the oiuports the past week
were 279,536ba1e5, the actual movement
from plantations was 305,058 bales, the
balance going to increase the stocks at
the interior towns. Last year the re
ceipts from the plantations for the same
week were 322,382 bales and for 1886
they were 322,352 bales.
The decrease iu amount in sight, as
compared with last year, is 582,070 bales,
the decrease as compared with 1886 is
89.457 bales and the decrease from 1885
is 146,311 bales.
Have You?
We mean to ask, have you examined
the splendid stock of fall and winter
goods now offered by J. P. Jones, Carter*,
ville’s clever and popular dealer? It you
have not, then take our advice, and give
him a call. He has learned from long
experience what the people of this section
want, and he went on to search out those
very things, and he got there, Eli.
The ladies are charmed with his beauti
ful line of dress goods and general novel
ties. His clothing takes the eye of the
men, and it is cheaper to wear his boots
and shoes than to go barefooted.
If Dina’s to be married
And you want her rigged up fine,
If John goes to the wedding
And you want him, too, to shine,
If grandma lias rheumatics,
Or grandpa aching bones,
Buy flannel cheap, and other things
From the stose of J. P. Jones.
Examine bis big stock, and then you'll
excuse us for going into poetry about it.
Don’t judge a man by the clothes he
wears. God made one and the tailor the
other. Don't judge him by his family,
for Cain belonged to a good family.
Don t judge a man by his failure in life,
for many a man fails because he is too
honest to succeed. Don’t judge a man
by the house he lives in, for the lizard
and the rat often inhabit the grander
structures.—Wharton (Tex.) Independ
ent.
BATTLE OF ThE BALLOTS.
Close of a Remarkably Lively Nat
ional Campaign.
Harrison Seems to Have the Besthhomng
for a Four Year’s Residence ’ i
the W hire House.
New York claimed the attention of our
people from 6 o'clock Tudesday evening
until the following day.
A large crowd gathered at the tel
graph office, and by 8 o’clock Mr. Baker
began to hand in the bulletins.
The first reports were from the city,
and as the big majorities for Cleveland
were read, the room was made to ring
with shouts, but by midnight, there was
a difference of opinion as to the run
ning of the bulletins, ami half the crowd
becoming almost satisfied that Cleve
land had lost the State, retired to their
homes.
Conflicting reports were life through
Wednesday, and Democratic and Rc
publican hopes alternated up and down.
Some ardent Democrats held on to
hope all day.
Bates, Democrat,beats H. Clay Evans.
Republican, for Congress in the Chatta
nooga, district.
Georgia elects a solid Democratic dele -
gation to Congress.
Indiana and California have given
Cleveland small majorities.
Cp to last night everybody seems to
have conceded New York to Harrison
except Chairman Brice, who still conten
ded that there was a chance for Cle\
land.
A telegram from H. W. Grady late last
night said that the chairmen of both
committees admitted that it would re
quire the official count to decide the
status of New York.
Both sides claim Indiana and Wiscon
sin, and the official count only will decide
the question in these States, and also in
California.
The whole thing is uncertain up to
the hour of going to press, with the
chances in favor of ITairison.
Our latest specials are to the effect
that Harrison carries the doubtful
States, and is undoubtedly elected.
Went Through tlie Scourge.
Young Howard Smith, who is on a
visit to our city, tells an interesting
story of his experience in the recent epi
demic of yellow fever in Jacksonville.
He describes as something not to be
forgotten the scenes of the first panic
when out of the city’s 40,000 population
15,000 fled in three days, and soon there
were only 12,000 remaining. Of these,
many thought the announcements only
a scare, pursued their usual course with
indifference, and were made the unwilling
witnesses of what followed. Others
couldn’t get away and proceeded toinaxe
the best of things from the start —and
all were soon hardened to the situation.
He was attacked August 20th, with a
chill; knew he had fever; was not fright
ened ; in three days he was irrational and
remained so two days; nearly reached
the black vomit stage; became rational
again; soon began to convalesce, and
was not long getting on his feet again:
worked two weeks in the telegraph office,
and during the time gave what aid he
could to a suffering friend. Desiring to
leave the city, he was sent to Clamp Perry
and staid through the regulation period.
The house he was sick in had a yellow
flag over it at each corner and a police
officer standing guard at the door.
Beyond the caution to show usual pru
dence and see that the skin is kept
moist and the kidneys acting there are
no special directions to be observed.
About the epidemic in general he says:
“There was great trouble with the
negroes. They refused to go to quaran
tine camp, many of them actually believ
ing it was a move to put them back in
slavery. I have seen four hundred at
relief headquarters at one time waiting
for their orders. Some of the meaner
ones would steal from the deserted
homes. They were cared for, neveitlie
less, and many of the best men fell from
the fatigues of mind and body brought
by untiring efforts for their relief. Many
of the poorer class of whites fared
worst of all. They refused to share the
charity fund with negroes; many of them
died of neglect rather than have their
conditions and needs known; many fled
aimlessly to the country to camp in the
woods; once out, were not allowed to
return, and met hunger, privation and
death in such injudicious retreats.”
“I shall not expect to witness again
the like of the lonely appearance the
city’s streets presented. I believe it were
possible at times to walk two hours with
not the form of a human being visible to
the eye.”
Being questioned about his brother
Theodore’s death, he said his attack
seemed milder than his owu, but owing
to tfle overstrain on mind and fatigue of
body from work he had been doing
among the suffering, he was soon beyond
the rallying point. He was sick only
seven days.
OUR COTTON MARKET.
A Rush Last Week—Heating tUe Record—~
Prices up to Those of Atlanta.
Public Weigher Collins hat] his bauds
full last week. The receipts for that week
were heavier than for any previous week
in the past six years.
At times the weigher and his scales
were crowded off the large platform and
had to weigh cotton in the street. Cp to
this date our receipts are more than 150
bales ahead of the same date last year,
notwithstanding the short crop and the
lateness of opening.
This fact shows that Cartersville is this
year receiving much cotton that has
heretofore sought a market elsewhere.
One farmer carried a load of cotton to
Koine one day and sold it at The
next day he brought a load to Carters
ville. It. was classed the same as that
taken to Rome, and sold at 9%.
The farmer here saves much of the ex
pense he has in selling at other markets,
and our buyers are now paying right up
vv’th the Atlanta market.
W hile Cartersville is making no big
blow about it, tlie people are learning
from experience that this is as good a
market as they can find in North Geor
gia. and consequently, bring their cotton
here.
The public weigher's fee often cents per
bale is all theexpensethe farmer has hero
in disposing of his cotton.
Another thing that is attracting cot
ton to this market is the unusually large
and choice stocks of goods carried this
season by our merchants. They can sell
goods as cheap as the cities farther off.
Our business men are not only wide
awake to the interest of their patrons,
but are clever, accommodating, and
square in their dealing.
How to Keep tlie South Poor.
ATTanta Constitution.
The Richmond State falls into line with
the Constitution in its appeal to South
ern people to patronize home industries.
Our contemporary does not hesitate
to say that the practice is too prevalent
in Richmond of sending to distant cities
for articles which are made at home.
Richmond people, when they want house
hold furniture, dress goods and various
things of use and ornament, send off to
Xew York to purchase them, notwith
standing the fact that all this merchan
dise can be obtained at the same prices
at home.
To some extent our merchants and
manufacturers are to blame for this
state of affairs. Many of them do not
let the public know what they have, the
quality of their goods and the price. In
a word, they do not advertise judicious
y. Rut customers are somewhat to
blame themselves. Our contemporary
says of the Richmond people:
“Another and large class of Richmond
buyers is that which buys dry goods
and notions by mail. This class affords
the big New York house its extreme fe
licity. It buys goods in value from 5
cents to $">(), and is caught by the broad
side advertisements in the Gotham
papers, giving prices, and closing with
the alluring catch-phrase, ‘orders by
mail a specialty. This is a favorite
method by means of which New York
dealers unload a great quantity of out
of-date or shop-worn goods.
AVe take this opportunity to inform
the guileless lady purchasers of Rich
mond that the big New York houses
ought not to delude them by any such
phrase as ‘we buy in largo quantities
and can afford to sell cheaper.’ <'an the
New York establishment whose house
rent is $12,000 a year sell for less than
the Richmond merchant whose rent is
$1,200 a year? And again: The New
York merchant, if he has any sense, will
know six mouths before hand just what
style of goods a manufacturer will turn
out the next year. That style may be
very different from the prevailing style,
‘and any goods on his shelves when the
next styles arrives will be a loss. Hence,
his only hope is to offer ‘proinntly by
mail.’ ”
this applies to Atlanta and other
Southern cities. Many ladies and gen
tlemen in Atlanta make it a point to or
der their wearing apparel from New
\ork. They buy almost everything
there, from a stove ro a suit of parlor
furniture. Yet. if they but knew it, they
could buy identically the same things
here and save money. Atlanta manu
facturers and merchants can afford to
undersell their Northern competitors, be
cause they pay here for rent, labor, and
in the shape of taxes and other ex
penses.
It is useless to urge the patronage of
our local dealers from considerations of
patriotism and friendship, but the ap
peal ought to have some effect when peo
ple can be made to see that they can
save money, keep it here at home and
make this entire region prosperous.
I his is the way to put it. We can keep
the South poor by sending our money
North; we can make her rich b.y simply
keeping our money here and trading
with each other.
NO. 22.