The weekly telegraph. (Macon, Ga.) 1885-1899, December 18, 1888, Image 1

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Newspaper Page Textr. m. THE WEEKLYfTELEGRAPH. ESTABLISHED 1826. MACON GEORGIA TUESDAY DECEMBER 18, l>8a-TWELVE PAGES. VOL. LXY. NO. 35. GERMANY TO THE RESCUE. I'alian rentes, the price ot which has fallen off considerably to try to popularize those securities here. he r IMPERILLED interests in east AFRICA WILL BE PROTECTED. Eter Foot of tost around To Ito Recovered —Action of the ItelchstuB Makes Ittimsrek's Way Clear-Kasdan Relations Much Strained. Copyright 1S8S by New York Associated Tress Bibun, Dec. 15.—The debate in the Reichstag on Herr • Windthorit’s motion relative to the suppression of the East Afri can slave trade, has dispelled many errors which were current among those who belired that Germany would never stir a foot nor apecd s penny, directly or indirectly, to as- ,ijt the East Africa company over its straits. Though the suppression of slavery was ostensibly the object of the motion, its real aim was Bimply to elicit the sense of the na tion concerning the commercial and political fatore of the East African Company and to provide a basis for future govcrnmentaction. eight •bob hismabck. It is an open seoret that Bismarck was re luctant to embark in a spirited colonial policy until the nation should have clearly expressed its will in the matter. This has now been done in a manner so decided ns to render the chancellor’s future course clear. The debate marks an important develop- oust in the colonial policy. The Reichstag has declared in favor of progressive action andicompletely dispelled the illusion that Germany’s action to recover the lost ground and to safeguard her imperilled positions in Zanzibar would be confined to Blockading operations. LOST GROUND TO BB RECOVERED, The preliminary stop having been unani" imous, the Reichstag will, on reasstmbling after Christmas, be presented with a bill framed in acoordance with the views of the leaden of the friendly groups, which will probably enable the East African Company, either as it is at present organized or in a new form, to recruit a locai iorce of native* for the purpose of recovering and garrison ingthe lost ground nnd to establish an anti' slavery blockade on land ns well as on sea. Count Herbert Bismarck apparently draws s distinction between the intended aotivity of a force of this kind and the other forcos which are intended for the expedition into the interior, but it is doubtful whether the Arab mind will realize the diflerence. TSB DEBATE A SBRtC-COMEDT, The debate was calm, cautious andicrious, but, nevertheless, it savored largely of the performance of a comedy which had been carefully rehearsed, and it is regarded os a mere official registration of well-known ministerial vitwsr The decision was a fore gone conclusion. OEBUAN-ENOLISII AGRKBMKNT SECURE. The North German Gazette, on tire morn ing of the .debate, prominently called at i ’■* Trfuc WrgSuwom’i *spev>,b..z* the British nouse of Commons, aud sienifi- cartly declared that the speech showed that t!.- um-mi-nt between Kin;bind and tier many rested upon a teenre basis, which would bd little shaken by parliamentary at tacks, eitjier here or in England, RCSSO-GKRUAN RELATIONS UNIUTROVED. The attitude of the Russian and German Tress does slot Improve The Hamburg correspondent’s article of'Thursday on the relations between Germany, Austria , and Russia was issued by a semi-official telegraph agenay, and may accordingly be accepted ns authentic. But fortunately, in epite of its semi-official character and the strong feeling it displays, the article has not produoed "• :. IV her mi tin- I nr mi t! .- public mimi, although it k seen, from the tact that the semiofficial writers again threaten to publish the Austro-Rnwian treaties of 1876 and 1877, that the political relations with Russia must bo strained TlIE'JtBWSPATEE WAR. The North German Gasette, referring to the article, expresses the hope that the Russo-German newspaper war will not be renewed, and inkimatei that if it is the Rus sian Taa-Slavkt press will be left to stew its own Juice, while the T.gsblatt advises the public not to be alarmed at the journal istic war, hut to wait until ike .Reichaanzt- inger publishes the treaties. HERUEBT BISMAECK’R MAIDEN. BFPOBT. Friday’s debate la the reiebstag was mem- enble as the occaaion of Count Herbert Bismarck’a maiden speech. The greatest interest was shown,and more deputies were present than on u.iy other day during the union. The public galleries ware also crowded. Among the notable pernons present wan Lieut. VVUsmann. It was especially remarked that Count Herbert’s speech occupied over thirty nunutes. It was the event of the day. Count Herbert's voice, enunciation, gestures and abrupt delivery vividly re minded the audience of his father. At the Winning of his speech his remarks, though delivered in a loud tone, could weiiiuou 111 H 1UUU unit , LUUIU scarcely he followed. Afterward he became •aimer and more fluent, gaining confidence as he won the sympathy of his audience, otorms of applause greeted bis patriotic peroration. Count Herbert cannot be said to have the g»t of eloquence, hut it is admitted on all sides that he acquitted himself of his task well an l handsomely. THE EMPEROR CONTINUES TO WORK HARD- tnipcror William continue* to work hard. •He receives Generals von Waldersee and von Wittich daily. It is reported that the Is engaged in explaining in minute _ et *il the possibility of Germany’s auttaining • war agamst France and Russia simulta' «onily. Jt kstaUd that the authorities at Kiel and wuneimshavcn are preparing to send to nil? 018t l ** e ‘Wriest notice a corps of vol- ■users armed with repeaters nnd rifled annons. Foreigners will be admitted to the , r P* ’'■dj’ on the condition of being able to •tud the climate. p , ? tadical papers having assented that J”* 1 * had supplied the Soudanese with nis and munition, the Russian ambassador ,~V , * ,u red Count Herbert Bismarck that on assertions are totally unfounded. BNEA8INESSIN FINANCIAL CIRCLE! 5 . Financiers here are uneasy over the sue- ••H of the Russian loan in Paris, which is Opposed to indicate the possibility that e!*®** way recover her lost ground in the world. This she might do if she ,L: 0, *d her energies to the task and enacted . e necessary legislation. Nie would tons « a D g e upon the domain which German nw- C,e . r * have come to consider as their At the same time some believe that mu J* ,oon ensue. They, therefore, seenS,*** ^ or * decline, especially in Russian in». ,*• An a compensation for the loss t 0 7T' ,l * n riocks it is the evident intention **** advantage of the sales at Paris of A SO-CALLED PATRIOTIC COMPLAINT. Another noticeable feature of the money market takes the form of a patriotic com- plaial that the French Credit Lyonnaice has sent agents into German provincial towns to •anvass for business with German bankers and merchants. The Hamburg correspondent states that Prof. Geflken’s counsel haTe applied to the imperial tribunal for their client’s release, giving the whole of his property as bail, on the ground that he voluntarily surrendered himself. The application was refused, it being held that the amount of hail oflered would not prevent Geffken from taking flight. His trial is expected to take place at Leipsic in January. TUB ANTI-SLAVERY CRUSADE IN AUSTRIA. The anti-slavery crusade has been suc cessfully commenced in Austria. At the instigation of Cardinal Livcrignie, a meeting on the subject has been held at Vienna, under the auspices of one of the most influ ential Catholic societies. The papal nuncio attended the meeting, which was presided over by Prince von Wrede. Two clerical speakers pleaded that Austria should join with the other nations in the anti-slavery movement. -JACKSON VTLRK IS VKRY HOPEFUL. The Ilefngoes Aro Returning Rapidly nnd Easiness Prospects Are Good. Jacksonville, Fla., Dec. 16.—Two refugees’ special trains from Atlanta and other Georgia cities arrived here yester day, and the regular northern trains have all been well filled with refugees. Prob ably 500 people in all have arrived in the city in the past thirty hours. The refu gees have been met by bands of music, people bearing banners of welcome and other-demonstrations ol joy. Business is opening-up, and the streets present almost their wonted appearance. It is estimated that there will be ‘fully 5,000 arrivals per week during the next month. The prospects for the season and general business are good. WORTHY OP JESSE JAMES. Illinois Central Train Robbed by Masked Mer. Hew Orleans, Dec. 16.—A -dispatch from Grenada, Hiss., says: ‘Last night (Saturday) passenger train No. 3-on the Illinois Central railroad was robbed one mile north ol Dock Hill. At 1:15 when the train pulled ont of Duck Hill, two men boarded the engine, and commanded the engineer, A. J. law, to pull out fast and not stop until told. The engineer and the fire man, George Evans, both being covered with navy “sixes” obeyed the command, and when one mile north of Dnck Hill, the train was stopped, and the engineer nnd fireman were ordered to dismount. This they IfuDiptly did, They were ihen marched to tt,ewxprese car.' One of the robber* knockeu on the door, whlcn w«« Opened by Ibe i sengcr. Alter-firing three shots the man entered and took $3,000, oil there was in the car, from Messenger Hill. The firing of the pistol and the stopping of the train attracted the attention of Con ductor P. B. Wilkinson, who rushed ont, and was immediately fired upon. He re turned to the train. A PA65EKGEH EILLEI?. Mr. Cheas Hughes of Jackson, Tenn.. ran out with a Winchester rifie. As he stepped on the ground from the smoking car he was fired upon. One shot struck him in the arm, another went through his stomach, inflicting a fatal wound. The death of theyoung mail was very sod, as he was the only support of his widowed mother. He game to Lexing ton Mias., yesterday to meet bis sister's family and a younger brother, ail of whom were on the train, and they were much die- tressed by bis untimely death. The robbery w«» done in regular highway style. Nine shots were fired by Conunctar Wilkinson and Traveling Passenger Ageat Rohan, three by.Hughes aud four by the robbers. Daring the robbery great uneasi ness was felt by the passengers, who feared for the safety of their valuables and their lives. THE BOBBERS DESCRIBED. The following description of the robbers is furnished by Engineer A. J. Law: “Both were white men, oue was tall and slender, and the other was of ordinary size. Both were poorly dressed, and showed them selves to be hard characters. The tali one wore sandy chin whiskers, I don’t know whether he had a mustache or not” Express Messenger Hill gives the follow ing description of the robber who-entered tin- car: “He was a tall man, five feet, ten inehrs high and wore a white slouch hat. die had no heard on the aide of his face, and a mask covered his face below, bis nose. He had a large nickel plated pistol, which looked un usually long. There wai a very large mund barrel, apparently for cap and ball. The nuts bad dark hair, cut very short, it looked as if itbad been cut by aeountry barber. He wore a gray suit of very ordinary clothes. He put the money taken from the messenger in a sack larger than the one used on the express car, but of the same material.” Both of the robbers were masked. It is believed that neither of the men was hit by shots fired at them from the train. TO BE TRAILED BT BLOODHOUNDS. The place of the robbery was an open low marsh, about fifty yards from the woods. The robbers ran eastward and into the swamp. A posse is being organized here to join in the chase. Bloodhounds will be used to follow the trail. The description of the tall man w ill, « milv whiskers is a eooil describ- tion of the mail who recently robbed n train on the NorthcasNm railroad. TO VISIT OKN. HARRISON. A Party ot Utrmlngliam Manufacturers to Leave for Indianapolis. Birmingham, Dec. 16.—A committee com posed of five or six prominent manufacturers leave here tomorrow for Indianapolis to present an address to President-elect Har rison. The adJress will be very brief, setting forth that the political partite in the Sooth can now divide on political issues and that the signers of the address are pleased with the triumph of protection and that they ask Gen. Harrison to recognize the best element of tile Republican party in making appoint ments in the Sooth. About fifty prominent manufacturers and business men, mostly democrats, signed the address. They will reach Indianapolis Mon day and call upon Gen. Harrison Tuesday. Killed Irene. STANLEY IS IN THE TOILS. SEEMINGLY NO DOUBT OF HIS CAP TURE BY OSMAN DIGNA. He Hill Ho Released if Suaktm Is Aban doned, If Not, Ills Murder is Proba- ble-Tlie King or Belgium Mecli Agitated. ‘ Cairo, Dec. 14.—In a letter received at Suakim from Osman Digna, and which is supposed to have contained an announce ment that Emin Fashaand a. white traveler, presumably Stanley, had fallen into the hands of the Mahdi, were enclosed copies of a dispatch from Dervish Leader at Lado, to Khaiifd Pasha, giving the date of Emin Pasha’s surrender as October 10, and a letter to Emin Pasha from the Khehive, which the latter handed to Henry M. Stanley when he was at Cairo. With bis letter, Osman Digna sent several' cartridges which he alleged were taken from the white traveler. The Zanzibarians in oat tying the hands of the militory author ities, . M IS Gdsclicn—I cannot tie the hands of the mlitary uutlioritii s. I shall not go an iuelkebejond the statement that I have alriodyiniarie. Suakim, Dec. 15.—It has been ascertained thSl'Yg date 1SC9 was stamped upon the cartridges which accompanied Ostnan DignaVietter announcing the capture of Kinin Pasha and the white traveler, and wUioh were alleged to have been taken from tlnj latter. I OBItIK 111 IN i:\-CONVICT, Stanley’s expedition were armed with Snider rifles, but there were none in possession of the Dervishes. RUMORED PROPOSAL FROM OSMAN DIGNA. London, Dec. 14.—It is rumored that Osman Digna in his letter expressed a wil lingness ;to surrender Emir Pasha and his white companion, provided Egypt would agree to abandon Suakim. If his proposal is not accepted it is believed that hotn tiie captives will be killed. The British cabinet is now discussing the situation. , DISCUSSION IN TIIB COMMONS. London, Dec. 14.—In the Pause of Com mons this afternoon, Mr. Smith, government leader replying to Wilfred Wilson, said thatas faros was known to the government the letter written by Osman Digna an nounces the surrender of Emin Pasha and the white traveler. The government had not the means of knowing whether these al legations were well founded. Stanhope, minister of war, replying to Dillon, stated that the cost of the army of occupation in Egypt daring the enrrent year would be £110,000. This expense would be borne by Egypt. If the operations entailed further expenditures the govern ment would consider how they should be met. The Egyptian government had ap proved the sending of reinforcements to Suakim. GRIENFELL RECOGNIZED THE LETTER. ‘Gen. Greenfell recognized the letter which Osman Digna bad furnished as the original one, which he had drafted for the Khedive- Thus Stanley’s capture is virtually put be yond doubt. The Congo state ofiici ds have not been informed of the situation. me King of Belgium is agitated by ibis •eutcomc ot the expedition and is receiving a great many dispatches regarding it. He ad mits that he was the largest subscriber to Stanley’s expedition. The independence Beige says everything will be doue to liberate Stanley, and th; i Gladstone too Mtterly regrets me tno girl. meat of Gen. Gordon, for Lord Salisbury to r .tl abandon Stanley and Emin Pasha. THE VERY LATEST. London, Dee. 15.—The Emin relief expe dition committees are doubtful of the gen' uineneas of the Osman Digna letter. They suggest that the Khedive’s letter may be a copy stolen at Cairo, but they think it more 1 iL'£.!r - ihi* Lar.t An rnnr.cn tn F..r.!r. ^■1 ay sent on rancors to & with'letters, and that these runners were captured. In any case, they arc hopeful that even if Emin is captured Stanley is still free. Suakim, Dec. 14.—Osman Digna’s letter was a reply to Major Randle’s request of la.-t Augint fur news of Emin I'.ldia. Tile Ivttc ra;M-rts that the Mahdi hat. s un• |urt-il the whole of the equal-.rial provinces. The letter stated that one whlto man escaped. Fu(il Details of .thu Recent Hart -Comity j LA ' - Abduction. Hartwell, Dec. 14.—Meager details of the abduction of Betty Dyar, the 13-year old daughter of Mr. W. J. Dyar, a re- sheeted citizen of this county, by Jas. R. Estes, an ex-convict, have been sent out and .published. But the full details of the affair disclose an almost incomprehensible depth of villainy on the part of Estes. In order to give an intelligent narrative ,*■# the occurrence it will he necessary to ^ive some of the antecedents of Estes, the abductor. Some three or four years ago Eotes, who was living at Andersonville, S. was implicated in a burglary commit- t’xLat that place. {j SENT TO THE PENITENTIARY. He was arrested and, although liis family made every effort to secure his ne- (piittal, the proofs of his guilt were so evident that he was convicted and sen tenced to the penitentiary for a term of two years. He served out this sentence aYid when he was released lie returned to Georgia, but only remained a short while. He was next heard from in Florida, lead ing, it is 6aid, the same disreputable life that lie had lived at other places. About a year ago Estes returned to this state, and after drifting aimlessly from place to place, finally went to the home of Mr. W. J. Dyar, the father of the ab ducted girl, who was his uncle. , THE WOLF SNEAKS INTO THE FOLD. To Mr. Dyar Estes expressed his peni tence for his past disreputable life and for fl*e disgrace he had brought on liis family, ssd also announced his determination to reform. He asked Mr. Dyar to assist him in carrying out this purpose. Mr. Dyar, naturally, sympathized with the fellow, not detecting, for he w?.s unsuspicting, the hypocrisy that lay beneath Estes’ pen itent words. He gave Estes employment, and advised him to 6end for his wife, who had left him on account of his dissolute ways. Follow ing up Dyar’s advice, Estes made overtures to Lis wife for a reconciliation,. but his wile knew his scoundrelly disposition top well to be caught by his assumed peni tence. So Estes remained with Mr. Dyar, and was treated as a member of the family. WINNING THE GIRL’S LOVB. He seemed to he fond of Bitty, Dyar’s young daughter, hut not in an improper way. Nq member of the family suspected that*"viHuh intent which Estes had formed feTANLEY DELIVERED IN CHAINS. A Letter Received stating That Kuzin I'aalia ami Stanley Halt lteen Betrayed. .Suakim, Dec. 16.—The Khalifa letter to Ozman Digna itated that the ztcamer expo* dition to the equator, commanded by Oman Saleh on arriving at Lado had Emin Pasha and the sprite traveller delivered to them in chains by Emin’s officers end treops. Oman Saleh in his letter to the Kh&lif stated that lie reached Lado on October lttb, and that the kbedire had sent a white traveller named Stanley with a letter-telling Etnin to go with Stanley ami offering the re mainder of the foroo the option of going to Cairo or remaining. They refused to enter Turkish Servla, anl gladly received Oman Saleh. Oman Saleh found a la'ge quantity of feathers mid ivory, lie ln-.u I that auntlier traveller had-visited Emin, but had gone and he was searching fer him. FIGHTING AT SUAKIM. Saukim, Dec. 16.—A recconnoissance was made on the left and rear of the rebels’ position t.'day. The party waa headed by Gen. Greenfelt, and advanced under . a heavy fire from the forts. The Arabs opened fire, but did no damage. The .firing con tinues on both sides and the Arabs’ earth works have been damaged. NATIVES AUK INCREDULOUS. London, Dcc.lt.—A dir patch from Snakim to the Times says: ‘The natives do not be lieve that the equatorial province have submitted to the Mahdi. If they hail the natives say, proclamations to the people of Emin's territory and the other official acts of Mahdi woul l have been made public and the surrender of Suakim would nave been de manded. The coast guard steamer, which has just arrived from the south heard noth ing of the alleged capture of Emin.” Q i 0 be! it Isles’ oily promises about reforming were untrue. ’ From a letter of Estes, which lie by 6ome chance secured,he learned that Estes had been in correspondence with certain of bis former reckless associates with reference to forming n band of rub bers and counterfeiters. Immediately up n a.'.i.tg t!iis letUr Mr. Dyar dett ti.iinci! to bo rid of Estca as soon as possible, but bo fore he could carry his resolution into ef fect the denouement came and came in the shape of the abduction of bis daughter. RUTTY IS ABPMCTKD. On the last night in Xovemb ■ Mr. Dyar was absent from home. t as also away. It had been noticed . i v that Betty seemed much reoccii-ded a . frequently went to the door and isteu ■ though expecting some signal. White «** family waa at supper the girl suddenly quit eating aud stepped out into the yard. Since that moment Betty has been seen by nn moinliAr rtf tlm fnavilv ITnr.n Hoor’a no member of the family. Upon Dyar f * loturn lie learned that Estes had also dis appeared, and he was told that Estes had said repeatedly that he intended to leave and take the girl with him. The fugitives were tracked to the Savannah r.ver, where all trace of them was lost. 'I he Dygr family is in despair. The mother is almost crazed by the thought that her daughter has fled witli such a scoundrel. HOLD IIOR OF ltlR JIMMY. DISCCSSING NT IKLBY’i FATE. Ozroner'a Jury Knys Haw BUtMI>OHAM,Dee.l6.—Tht coroner’s jury today held an inquest on the body of Irene Hawes found in the lake yesterday and re turned a verdict that the deceased came to her death at the bands of her father, IL IL Hawes, Suakim Operations Not to be Suspended Dec-iufie of liis Reported Capture. Los DON, Dec. 15.—In the House of Com* mons today Lord Randolph Churchill asked whether the reports of the capture of Emin Pasha and Mr. Stanley were well founded, and a'so whether the government would negotiate with Osman Digna for the release of the Enropeans at Khartoum before the beginning of hostilities. Mr Goschcn, acting government leader, reported that the information received by the government was so uncertain that it onld be impossible to suspend operations for the relief of Snakim during the many ks that would elapse before the fate of the explorer could be ascertained. Mr. John Morley pressed the government fo suspend operations at Suakin until Mon* day next. Mr. Goseben replied that the request could not be complied with, bat he promised that no instractiogf would be given to hurry op erations. Mr. Morley—May I take it, then, that the government will do the best they can to pre vent the commencement of hostilities with* Central Railroad ltobbed at Tennillo of •3,100. Tinnille, Dec. 14.—[Special.]—This morning at 5 o’clock as Capt. W. O. Mat thews, treasurer of the Wrightaville and Tennelle railroad, opened up the office of th3 Central railroad preparatory to go out on the road with the pay tram, be dis covered the door of the safe open where the funds for this purpose are kept. Upon examination it wes found that the saie had been rilled of about $3,100 in silver and currency. About $500 was left in the safe undisturbed. The safe was carefully locked last night after business ‘hours, and it is a mystery how the burglars succeeded in unlocking the combination lock. A key wan U6ed in -unlocking the front door of the office. In leaving the burglars cleverly covered up all traces of their work. Everything is being done to ferret out the perpetrators, but as yet no clue hae been obtained. A reward of $200 lias been ofiered fer the recovery with proof to convict. SAVE ns FROM IGNORANCE. 'USSS! StSSSS, S THE PEOPLE OF GEORGIA DEMAND BETTER SCHOOLS. Interviews With Fromlnent Citizens all Over the State Show nn Overwhelm ing Sentiment lu Favor of a Six Months* Term. A few days ago the Teleobahi sent to each of its correspondents in the Btate the following circular letter: Please Interview several prominent gentle* men ol your (ounty (tbreo or (our will do) on Georgia’s pub.ic school.. The following ques tions will Indicate what wo want: What do they think ot the present threo months' term? Do they lavor a six months' term? In this way it was hoped to obtain un mistakable evidence of what the people think of the movement in favor of better public schools. The result is entirely sat isfactory. Mlofttrel. X The Landlubber Sailor' Fiom the New York Sun. . There ha* nerer been bulone man’s songs, writtc 1 on shore, popular with the bluejackets; but one man’s songs that sea faring men have declared redolent of pitch and tar and oakum, written with the true spirit of a sailor; but one man’sBongs that the ship -iddlers Ecraped on Saturday nights at eea before the toast of “Sweet- hearl'S and v ives”—and that man was Dibdin. Anri, strangely enough, Dibdin was a landlubber of tlie'purest kind. A Rowing Bar. In Prospect. Toronto, Bee. 16.—William O'Connor has challe lLreri Henry .Searle of Australia to row a three mile race for the championship of the wc M aud £1,000 a side, the race to take place on neutral water, to be mutually agreed ucun. tueklen'i Arniwz Salve. altc in the world for cm ires, tetter, zkln erop- ■ |.rt> r. Savannah, Cliatlinm County. Capt. W. W. Gordon, representative from Chatham county in the legislature, lias some very positive convictions on the educational question. He has always been an outspoken advocate for the common schools and he believes that the state ought to appropriate to them the utmost amount that its resources can sustain. “Is there not a growing conviction in the legislature that the common scitool system ought to be greatly improved?” ho was asked. “Emphatically, yes.” “Do yon not think that better schools would greatly encourage immigration to the state?” “They would, most assuredly.” “How many months in the year can the schools be kept open if the school fund is increased to the extent proposed by the legislature?” “Commissioner Hook makes tlieso esti mates: $210,000 would sustain the schools one month; $420,000 would sustain them two months; $630,000 three months; $S40,- 000 four months; $1,050,000 five months and $1,260,000 six months. The school fund being increased to the amount pro posed will sustain the schools a little more than threo months in 1889, and a little more than four months in 1890.” “Is the $165,000 for 1889 and $330,000 for 1890, which the appropriation bill car ries for common schools, in addition to the present school fund?” “Yes.” “What is the entire amount of the school fund with these appropriations added?” “According iuCuuiiiiisiioijcr Hook’s re port the school fund, which will be raised from the specific funds which hove hereto fore been its only source of supply, will in 1889 and 1890 amount to about $514,000. The total amount for IS'-'.' would therefore be $679,0*10, aud lor 1890 $844,000.” “Do you favor a six months' term?” “I do not think that the people would submit now to a tax necessary to continue the schools that length of time.” Capt. Gordon is a strong advocate of technology, and he is more anxious about the appropriations for the technological and common schools than he is for any other measures likely to be decided at this session of the legislature. COL. mekcu.r’s views. Col. George A. Mercer, president of the Chatham tv-nnty Board of Education, it a vigorous advocate of a six mouths’ term. Three months, ho says, are not long enough. A three months’ term is prac tically no term at all. “You may quote me as decidedly in favor of a longer term.” “Will the people submit to the tax necessary to carry on the schools for six months7” “That js the question ” col. estill’s viewh. Col. J. H. Estiil, who is also a member of the board of education, has very pro nounced views on the public school ques tion. There is no question of greater im portance in the future prosperity of the state, he says, than that of public educa tion. The'mass of the people are poor, and illy able to hear heavy taxation, but if they hope to seo the while race maiutain its supremacy and their de- scendcnta live in the land that their fathers inherited, they will have to provido the ways nnd means for educating their chil dren. Already the towns and cities are filling up with people from the country, who are abandoning their farms and rent ing them to colored people, mainly in order to give their children the advan tages of the public schools of the cities. The colored ncople are also anxious to have their cuildren educated, and they are settling in and about the cities where the public schools are open to them. I believe it to be tbe duty of tbe state not only to provide the necessary funds to support public education, but to organize a uniform school system for the entire state. It is of more importance to have a first-class man at tbe head of such a sys tem than to secure one to fill the place of chancellor of the university. I do not think that what is being done in the way of public education in this state, outside of the cities, is worthy of the name. To organize a proper system of public educa tion it will be necessary to adopt a better plan than we now have. In maDy instances the public schools away from tbe cities and larger towns, are burlesques. Those who have their management look upon them as nuisances ami give the schools, | the teachers, ami the concilium, little, u any attention, 'rite boards of education are mutual admiration bodies and the teachers are ptople who have failed at everything else and would probably be pronounced failures at teaching, if any i ne t ok the trouble I" investigate their schools. Of course I don’t mean to say that this charge applies to ail boards of education or to alt schools or their teachers. I think the school system of Georgia shoo’d be thoroughly overhauled and placed upon a business footing and then an educational tax should he col lected from every mau to support them. It is not “telling tales out of school,” nor is it intended to reflect uf on the white race, hut I venture the assertion that the colored children in Savannah are being better educated than nine-tenths of the while children in Georgia outside of the cities and towns.” the state for that period.” Thos. L Langston, of the firm f Lang ston it Woodson:—“Yes sir, I a n heartily in favor of a six months tern, and ot a compulsory clause requiring that the children should be sent to school. Tiie proper way to raise the monev is by taxa tion.” “Uncle” David Mayer, the originator of of Atlanta’s public school system, who is now serving ins twentieth year as a mem ber of the boardjSaid: “Three months will not do, you might as well try to satisfy a man’s appetite with one meal a day, as to expect to convert a_ child on a three months’term. Educa tion is the best thing that we can do to eradicate crime. It is very seldom that you see au educated man commit crime. The uneducated elassen generally furnish the most crime. A six months’ term it short enough in my pinion. It ought tr be longer and the taxable property of the Btate should bo made to stand the expense.” Ex-Minister W. L. Scruggs—The great est enemy to a republican form of govern ment is illiteracy. It was this that des troyed the government of Spain. Six months is shoit enough, and a direct tax should be levied for the support of the public schools of tliesta-'e. Councilman-elect Joseph tlirsch—Three months amount to nothing. Six months is short enough, and money to support the schools should be raised just as easy as other fund-i are raised for the support of the general government. B. F. Wyly of the firm of Wyly A Green—I think that a term of six months is better titan one of three, and that a term of that length is short enough. LaGrange, Troup Comity* Hon. O. A. Bull, county school com missioner of Troup county, said: “Well, three months is better titan no term at all, hut it is entirely too short to do much good. I now navo 96 centric; capita a month for three months, hut unless this is supplemented it jis impr-sibii- t > get good white teachers. In rvme neighborhood! this is done and the average tnitirn throughout the conuty ir $2 per mon n. Thus the state virtually only paya half of the tuition of thewliitesfor three months.” “What about the negroes?” “Well, the state pays for about all the education they get, as their schools practi cally only run for three months.” “Are you in favor of a longer term, and what do you think of the recent appropria tions?” "Well, I think that is a step in tho right direction. I am in favor of a state fund that will pay|about $1 per capita a month for six mouths. This should he supple mented by a local fund raised by taxation. I am not in favor of the state aticuiptiug to pav all the expense of tho public schools, but think it should bear part of the burden nnd tho remainder should he raised by local taxation, This will make tiie people feel a local pride and interest in the schools, aud they will send their children to them because they will feel the tax and think as they arecompielled to pay it they must derive some benefit from their money. Your rn-ri- pon i. iit then saw J. F. Park, ]'h. I)., i ; ...rofMr.lt. E. Park of Macon, and a mail who lias made teaching a life work and been yery successful. Tie was asked: “Doctor, what do you think of 4 Atlanta* Fulton County. Antone I>. Kontz, superintendent of the Pullman Sleeping Car Company:—“1 think that three months is tco short a term to do lzj good. Six months would be much better. I would form a ten months term and the levying of a tax on tiie property “f think it is a move in the right direc tion, for our school term ought to be lengthened. The present threo months’ term is almost worse than nothing, for it kills the private school, that might be mmlc (Iliciciit if Ike people hail not begin- to depend upon tills poor apology foreui- eating their children. “1 nm in favor of nt least a six month', term, as it is next to nn impossibility for tho average child to learn much by going to school three months in a year.- “The negroes, I believe, nre taking more interest in tiie public schools than the whites, and 1 knuw of a number of in stances where they have supplemented the public Bchool fund by privato contribu tions. "I hope we will soon havo a full six months’ term in the public schools and the appropriations mado will be continued until wc build up our public schools on a solid foundation.” Dr. T. 8. RradGeld, the leading tiiiiggist and one of the most publicvpirilc 1 men of our town, was next interviewed. “Doctor, what do you think of the pres ent public school system?” “Well, I am ill f.ivcr ef ill.trifling the state into school districts of about four miles square and putting the school house as near tho center of the district as possi ble, and allow hut one school in that dis trict to receive the benefit of the public school fund. “Now, let that he enough to run the school for three months without any other fee,so that tiie |>oor children can have the advantage of threo months' free tuition by a good teacher. I am in favor of changing the time from July until December to from Nov. 16 to March’l. The children can be better Bpared from tbe farms daring these months than in the summer, and then the/ study better in the winter. I would rather hare the state give $2 per capita a month for three months than $1 for six months, as this would allow us to employ thor* ouglily competent teachers for the three months, anu that is about all the time that a poor man can spare his children from the farm. Those who can spare them longer can, as a rule, afiord to pay for their tuition alter the three months ot free tuition has expired. “Of course this only is intend'd to apply to the country; for the towns I favor a longer term, and let this term he length ened by local taxation, hut give the county three months of goul tuition free.” Mr. J. IL Turner, state organizer of th Farmers’ Alliance, concurred with ’ Brad Held in his views as to the co r school, though he thought childrer be spared for four months. Everyone elee your correspo thought the term should he 1 six months. Dr. jntry might Albany, iJougbf In response to jour the leading citizc the public school r six months’ ten terviewed seve* lowing result Mr. L. F I think ndent mw .ngthened to .y County. inquir i to how gether. t U€8tlOD o, your .al gent.» of Albany stood on a** to a three or orrespondent in- ii-n, with the fol- M .Welch -aid: “Meat decidedly: three months insufficient alto- i iavrra six month.’ term, and eh more xa we cai' get.” r . J. H. Davie, county school (ornnsu- nn otee 12. a

Georgia Historic Newspapers

The weekly telegraph. (Macon, Ga.) 1885-1899, December 18, 1888, Image 1