Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

Irwin County News Official Organ of Irwin County. A. G. DeLOACH, tdilor and Proprietor. THE 54TH CONGRESS. ROUTINE OF HOUSE AND SENATE i BRIEFLY CHRONICLED. I Summary of Bills and Resolutions Presented and Acted Upon. THE HOUSE. Speaker Reed announced that the message and documents would be re¬ ferred to the committee on foruign af¬ fairs. Mr. Crisp, democrat, of Geor¬ gia, endeavored to get recognition to offer a joint resolution appropriating $100,000 to pay the expenses of a commission to be appointed by the president to investigate aud report what is the true divisional line between the republic of Venezuela and British Guiana, but Mr. Dingley’s motion to adjourn was put, aud at 4:50 o’clock the house adjourned until Wednesday. Members of the house who came to the capitol early Wednesday fell at once into a discussion of the presi¬ dent’s Venezuelan message, which was the topic foremost throughout the city. The feeling of responsibility and ap¬ preciation of the weight of the inter¬ ests involved was not lacking among both parties, and tended to act as a brake against any hasty 'action. There were not lacking members of the house willing to serve upon the projected commission and there was also a preva¬ lent idea that the commission would go to Venezuela to prosecute its in¬ quiry. When Speaker Reed appeared in the house he suggested to the re¬ publicans that it might be well to adopt some measure to carry into ef¬ fect the recommendations of the pres¬ ident’s message without delay. Air. Hitt, Illinois, asked unanimous con¬ sent for the consideration of a bill to empower the presieent to appoint a commission to consider the Venezuelan boundary question and • to appropriate $100,000 for the expenses thereof. A scene of considerable excitement followed the request of Air. Hitt for unanimous consent to consider the hill which had been read by the clerk and loudly applauded. Air. Boutelle was on his feet in the aisle in, front of Hitt. He prefaced his remarks by the statement that he disliked to object to the consideration of such a bill, “but,” said he, “it seems that this subject is one of such serious importance that the house of representatives should proceed in a decorous manner to con¬ sider it.” Cries of “Beady! Ready!” from the republican side interrupted Mr. Boutelle, but he proceeded urg¬ ing that the matter was one which af¬ fected the relations of the two great English-speaking nations of the world. Air. Hitt announced that he only de¬ sired to say a word, concerning the bill and its purpose. He would do so, he said, “without mentioning this side or that side,” for he hop¬ ed there would be no two sides when it came to a question like this. Aside from his general discussion of matters of national policy and inter¬ ests, there was a request made by the president for help from the house to , enable him to exercise his executive functions. “The first thing for us to remember as patriots,” said Mr. Hitt, “is that the success of our country depends upon our maintaining a united front—that our government should speak for all the people of the United States.” The suggestion of the president was for a judicial inves¬ tigation. He was sure it was made in the proper spirit, and the occasion re¬ quired that the country should act as one man. Air. Hitt moved the previous ques¬ tion, but Air. Crisp, of Georgia, se¬ cured his permission to say a word. He began: “I speak for all this side of the house where there is no division as to the propriety of passing the bill. This house respectfully invited the government of Great Britain to arbi¬ trate the boundary question' between Venezuela and British Guiana. Great Britain has declined. Now what are we to do? If the American people have a fixed opinion on any question they have a decided opinion that no European country can acquire terri¬ tory on the American continent by force.” Air. Hitt here entreated Air. Crisp, in view of the magnitude of the inter¬ ests involved, not to precipitate a hasty discussion of them. Air. Alo- Creary, demoorat, Kentucky, and Air. Boutelle were shouting for recogni¬ tion, but Mr. Hitt refused to yield the floor, and the previous question was carried with a shout of “Aye!” and no opposing voice was Heard. A resolu¬ tion was offered by Mr. Dingley, re¬ publican, Alaine, and agreed to that the holiday adjournment be from Fri¬ day, Then December house 20, to Friday, 12:40 January o’clock 3. the at adjourned until Friday. The house was in session but twenty minutes Friday and transacted little business of importance, At 12:30 o’clock a recess of one hour was taken. The house reassembled at 1:20 and im¬ mediately adjourned until Saturday * without transacting any further busi¬ ness. Speaker Reed cleared the way Sat¬ urday for action by the house of rep¬ resentatives by announcing the list of committees for this congress. There SYCAMORE. IRWIN COUNTY. GA.. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1895. were several surprises occasioned by the reading of the list, but generally the assignments made had been dis¬ cussed by current rumor. There waB general satisfaction with the work of the speaker, and he was commeded on all sides for the fairness and ability, as well as the consideration for the public interests displayed in discharg¬ ing the arduous and delicate task. The message of the president urging congressional action to relieve the present financial distress was read and referred to the committee on ways and means, as was also the resolution pro¬ viding for a holiday reoess. It was stated by the leaders of the house that it was probable the president’s rec¬ ommendation would be followed and no holiday reoess taken. On motion of Mr. Cannon a resolution was agreed to authorizing the committee on ap¬ propriations to sit during the sessions of the house. Also, on motion of Mr. Dingley, a similar resolution was agreed to for the committee on ways and means. Messrs. Bankhead aud Clark, of Alabama, and Hutcheson, of Texas, appeared on the floor for the first time this session and were sworn in by the speaker. The house then, at 12:55 o’clook, adjourned until Mon¬ day. THE SENATE. Though less than a dozen senators were present when the session opened Wednesday the Venezuelan issue at once came into prominenoe, but not directly as in the house, the senate’s business taking the form of measures for national defense. In presenting a bill for the repeal of the law impos¬ ing disabilities on those who served in the war of the rebellion, Mr. Hill, democrat, New York, spoke briefly. The main purpose, he said, was to wipe out that feature of the statute which prevented ex-confederates from serv¬ ing in the United States army and navy. “It is most opportune at the present moment,” said Mr. Hill, “that these men of the south should join those of the north in giving the coun¬ try any military or naval defense that may be required.” “There is no immediate haste,” said Air. Platt. “The country is not like¬ ly to have a war before congress reas¬ sembles after the holidays. There may be no objection to the repeal after it has been examined. ” Air. Hill con¬ sented to let the bill lie on the table for the present. Air. Chandler immediately followed with a bill “to strengthen the milita¬ ry armament.” The reading of the title occasioned much whispered com¬ ment. The measure provides: “That the president be, and he is hereby au¬ thorized and directed to strengthen the military armament by adding thereto, equipped for use, one million infantry rifles, one thousand guns for field artillery, and not exceeding five thousand heavy guns for fortifications, to be prepared by manufacture in the arsenals, or by contract for manufac¬ ture, or by direct purchase in this country or elsewhere, according to the discretion of the president, who shall confirm when practicable without un¬ wise delay to the methods prescribed for making contracts and purchases by existing laws. The Bum of one hun- drod million dollars is hereby appro- priated to carry into effect the provis- ions of this act.” The bill was re- ferred to the committee on military af- fairs, Another significant resolution was offered by Air. Gallinger, republican, New Hampshire, authorizing the sec¬ retary of war to contract for the pur¬ chase of an improved counterpoise battery. The resolution went to the committee on military affairs. The senate then settled down to routine business. As soon as the senate journal had been read and approved at Thursday’s session, the clerk of the house an¬ nounced the passage by the house of a bill appropriating $100,000 for the ex¬ penses of the commission to investi¬ gate the boundary between British Guiana and Venezuela, and the vice- president immediately laid it before the senate. Senator Sherman moved its reference to the committee on for¬ eign relations, but in the absence of Mr. Alorgan, chairman of the foreign relations committee, Mr. Cockrell, democrat, Alissouri, requested Mr. Sherman to withdraw his motion until the arrival of the senator from Alaba¬ ma. This was done and so the spec¬ tators, anxious to have Venezuelan affairs discussed, were disappointed, for the present at least. Some routine matters, including the reoeipt of the house holiday recess adjournment bill and the Armenian correspondence oc¬ cupied the senate before Mr.' Alorgan entered the chamber. Several of the republican senators at once held a hur¬ ried consultation with him. When the house Venezuelan bill was again laid before the senate, Air. Mor¬ gan immediately moved to refer it to the committee on foreign relations, and took the floor in support of his motion. “I should prefer, ” he said, “to leave the matter in the hands of the president, who has shown no dis¬ position to shirk his responsibility so far. His attitude has been courageous, firm and decisive.” He, for one, was willing, after decorous investigation, to adopt the president’s suggestions and pass the resolution. Mr. Morgan was followed by Sena¬ tors Sherman and Lodge. Mr. Sher¬ man said he thought there would be “In Union, Strength and Prosperity Abound.” no war, and said aotion should not be taken hastily. Mr. Lodge, in a vigor¬ ous speech, said he was not in haste, but he thought the time for the com¬ mission to report should be limited, and gave notice of an amendment that the commission should report by April 1. Mt. Voorhees, democrat, Indiana, took ground in favor of immediate months ac¬ tion. Great Britain took five to say that she would not arbitrate. He thought we should not make any further delay, but appoint a commis¬ sion to see what belonged to Great Britain and give her that and no more. He did not believe there was any dan¬ ger of war, but thought the dignity of the United States demanded that we should act without any farther delay. Mr. Allen, populist, Nebraska, ob¬ jected to a second reading of the bill, which would carry it over until Fri- day. In a short speech he said he did not expect that there would be any war. He thought the amendment pro¬ posed by Mr. Lodge meant that this would be more of a political war than anything else. Mr. Hawley, republi¬ can, Connecticut, said it was not so much a case of war as information. No one knew what were the facts. Great Britain herself did not know. He wanted the bill referred, because it was the dignified and proper way. Air. Teller said there was no haste in the matter. The boundary question was one of long standing and Great Britain was taking no extraordinary steps in regard to it. He did not care if the committee took a month to con¬ sider the bill. At the conclusion of Mr. Teller’s speech Senator Morgan said he would like to have the bill referred to the foreign relations committee, but un¬ less the objection to its second reading was withdrawn it would have to re¬ main on the table until Friday. • Mr. Allen refused to withdraw his objection and so the bill went over. The proceedings in the senate Friday were opened with prayer by its blind chaplain, invoking the Christmas in¬ fluence of “peace on earth and good will toward men.” It was delivered with such feeling, earnestness and elo¬ quence that it was ordered to be print¬ ed in the Record—a very unusual privilege to be accorded to a chap Iain’s opening prayer. The day, how¬ ever, did not respond to that peaceful opening, and. when the hour of ad- journment earn e the senate had passed, without amendment and without a single negative vote, the house bill appropriating $100,000 for a commis¬ sion to report to the president on the true divisional line between the re¬ public of Venezuela and British Gui¬ ana. Before the Venezuelan matter came before the senate, the resolution offered Thursday by Air. Allen, of Nebraska, directing the finance committee to in¬ quire into the advisability of opening our mints to the free coinage of silver and the issue of treasury notes to pro¬ vide for the contingency of war be¬ tween the British empire and the United States of America was taken up. Mr. Ailen referred to the bill re¬ cently introduced by Air. Hill, to en¬ able ex-confederate officers to be com¬ missioned as officers in the army or navy of the United States, the one in¬ troduced by Air. Chandler for an ap¬ propriation of $150,000,000 for rifles and cannons and the two introduced by Air. Hale for an increase of the navy and for a reconstruction of the United States ship Constitution, as so many proofs of the war spirit in the senate. It was necessary, Mr. Allen thought, for the populist party to take a stand in the matter. Realizing that fact, the resolution had been prepared, Mr. as money was essential to war. Platt moved to refer the resolution to the committee on finance. Defeated— yeas, 24; nays, 36. The resolution was then agreed to, Mr. Allen having withdrawn the preamble, It now reads: “Resolved, That the committee on finance be, and they are hereby direct¬ ed and instructed to inquire and re¬ port by bill or otherwise, whether it would not be expedient and proper for the government of the United States of America at this time to open its mints to the free and unlimited coin¬ age of gold and silver at the ratio of 16 to 1, and in addition thereto issue an adequate volume of full legal ten¬ der treasury notes in the same manner, such notes having heretofore been is¬ sued and in the interest of national safety withdraw the issue power of na¬ tional banks and retire all bank cur¬ rency. o’clock the proceeded At 3:45 senate to executive business, and when the doors were opened at 4:30 o’clock the presiding officer laid before the senate the president’s message asking that no recess be taken until after financial legislation necessary to preserve the credit of the government had been en¬ ad- acted, At 4:30 p. m. the senate journed. directly There was nothing of a war¬ like character in the senate discussion Saturday, but there were several finan¬ cial propositions and declarations. The first of these was a resolution of¬ fered by Mr. Vest directing the secre¬ tary of the treasury to coin the silver bullion in the treasury into standard silver dollars, and to pay with them the certificates issued under the law on July 14,1890, in purchase of the bull¬ ion; also to pay the greenbacks in standard silver dollars, or in gold, using whichever may be most abund¬ ant or convenient. Mr. Yost wished to hove his resolution immediately considered, but objection was made by Mr. Platt, and the resolution went over for the day. A like fate attended a somewhat similar resolution offerod by the new populist senator from Forth Carolina, Mr. Butler, directing the payment of the interest and prin¬ cipal of the government’s coin obliga¬ tions in gold or silver as long as the two metals are on a parity; and in silver when that metal is below parity with gold. Senators Stewart and DnBois made speeches denouncing President Cleve¬ land’s financial message. A greeting of the federal senate of Brazil to the United States senato for the “worthy message of President Cleveland which so strenuously guards the dignity, sovereignty and freedom pf the American nations” was com¬ municated from the state department and was read and referred to the com¬ mittee on foreign relations. The for- tications bill heretofore introduced by Mr. Squire, republican of Washington, was reintroduced with an “emergency clause, making the appropriation of $87,000,000 immediately available if so ordered by the president.” This clause, he said, was desirable “in view uf changed conditions. ” The holiday recess resolution having failed be¬ tween the two houses, the senate at 1:45 p. m. adjourned till Tuesday. NO POLITICS IN IT. The American Federation of Labor Adjourns Sine Die. The American Federation of Labor Tuesday continued to boycott the pro¬ duct of the American Tobacco Compa¬ ny. The brewer workers caused the reaffirmatjon of the boycott against the St. Louis English syndicate beer and the New York pool beer. The boycott levied on Hackett, Carhart & Co. was raised. The matter of a boy¬ cott on the breweries of Engal & Baltz, at Philadelphia, was referred to the executive committee. The question of the federation tak¬ ing part in politics was disposed of by the adoption of this resolution: “Resolved, That this convention declares that party politics, whether democratic, republican, socialistic, populistic or any other, should have no place in the federation of labor.” 1,460 This was carried by a vote of w 359. It was regarded as a great blow to the socialistic element. Resolutions of sympathy with the Cubans and of regret for the death of Allen G. Thurman were adopted. The question of election of two fra¬ ternal delegations to the British trade congress, to be held September 3rd, 1896, was then taken up and resulted in the selection of John McBride, re¬ tiring president, and Adolph Straus- ser, of Buffalo, ex-president of the International Cigar Alakers’ union. After congratulatory resolutions on the presidency of ex-President AIc- Bride had been adopted the conven¬ tion adjourned sine die. ISSUE OF BONDS DECIDED UPON. A Conference at the White House Sun¬ day. A Sun special from Boston, Mass., says: “The Globe’s Washington corre¬ spondent sent the following Sunday night: Another issue of bonds will be made. 1 This is the result of a confer¬ ence at the white bouse Sunday after- noon.between the president, Secretary Olney, Secretary Carlisle, Secretary Lemont and Attorney General Harmon. “During the past forty-eight hours the president, through his friends, has been carefully feeling the pulse of congress to ascertain whether the leg¬ islative department would comply with the request contained in his special message of Friday, and without delay take steps to properly protect the treasury. by the passage of adequate financial legislation. “The utmost secrecy in regard to the new bond issue has been maintain¬ ed, and at the present time probably not a dozen persons, including the members of the cabinet, know of the conferepce or the important deoision which was reached at the meeting of the president and a few of his advis¬ ers. ” BANK QUITS BUSINESS. Stockholders of the Empire State Bank, N. Y., Cease Operations. The Empire State bank, of New York, has,retired from business aud will wind up its affairs through the Astor Place bank, where all deposi¬ tors will be paid their balances on ap¬ plication. This action of the retiring bank was the result of a recent meeting of stock¬ holders. The bank has not been as successful as was expected and the stockholders deoided to wind up its affairs and retire from business. It has long been known in banking circles that there were too many little state banks in the city. These little state banks are unable to compete success¬ fully with the national banks. It is said that more of them are likely to re¬ tire from business shortly. We onjoy ourselves only in our work —in onr doing; and our best doing is onr bebt enjoyment. VOL. VI. NO. 44. MORE BONDS. RRESIDENT CLEVELAND ISSUES THE CALL. He Asks Congress for Prompt Aid In Sustaining Our Credit. The news that there had been a big slump in stocks in both New York and London and that the gold withdrawals for export Friday would approximate $4,000,000 and possibly more, created something of a sensation among the treasury officials. At about noon, As¬ sistant Secretary Curtis had a conver¬ sation with New York parties over the long distance telephone, and at its con¬ clusion hurriedly left the department for the White House, where the cabi¬ net was in session. He was shown into the president’s room, where he was joined immediately by Secretary Carlisle. The substance of Mr. Curtis’ information was laid before the presi¬ dent and the cabinet. Those present besides the president were lisle, Secretary Olney, Secretary Car¬ Attorney General Harmon, Post¬ master General Wilson and Secretary Morton. The absentees were Secre¬ tary Lamont, who is in New York; Secretary Herbert, who was in a rail¬ road train between New York and Washington, and Secretary Hoke Smith, who was detained at home by the dangerous illness of his little daughter. Reports of the serious con- dition of affairs in Wall street had been coming for an hour and after the cabinet assembled these were sent as fast as received to the treasury officials, who dispatched the information to Secretary Carlisle at the white house. Before the session had lasted two hours a deoision had been reached to send to congress the message trans- mitted later. At 1:30 o’clock it was decided by the officials to take a recess in order to give the president an op- portunity to draft the message. Mr. Cleveland set to work in pre- paring the document and probably had all his ideas in presentable shape when his official associates returned an hour later. By this time it had become known that the gold withdrawals amounted to $3,400,000, bringing down the gold reserve to $69,288,000, very nearly to the figure whioh was reached at the time of the first bond issue in February, 1894. It was 4:40 o’clock when the cabinet meeting adjourned. Twenty minutes before that time Mr. P. L. Pruden, assistant secretary to the president, had started from the white house with a copy of the message, to be delivered to the senate. It was very shortly before 4:30 o clock that the message was read. It dealt directly with the financial situ¬ ation : To the Congress—In my last annual message the evils of our present finan¬ cial system were plainly pointed out, and the causes and means of the deple¬ tion of the government were explained. It was therein stated that after all the efforts that had been made by the ex¬ ecutive branch of the government to protect our gold reserve by the issu¬ ance of bonds amounting to more than $162,000,000,such reserve then amount¬ ed to but little more than $79,000,000; that about $16,000,000 had been drawn from such reserve during the month next previous to the date of that mes¬ sage, and that quite large withdrawals for shipment in the immediate future were predicted. “The contingency then feared has reached us, and the withdrawal of gold Bince the communication referred to and others that appear inevitable, threaten such a depletion in our gov¬ ernment gold reserve as brings us face to face with the necessity of further action for its protection. This condi¬ tion is intensified by the prevalence in certain quarters of sudden and unusu¬ al apprehension and timidity in busi¬ ness circles. “We are in the midst of another season of perplexity caused by danger¬ ous and fatuous financial operations. These may be expected to recur with certainty as long as there is no amend¬ ment in our financial system. If in this particular instance our predica¬ ment is at all influenced by a recent insistence upon the position we should occupy in our relation to certain questions concerning our foreign poli¬ cy, this furnishes a signal and impres¬ sive warning that even the patriotic sentiment of onr people is not an ade¬ quate substitute for a sound financial policy. “Of course there can be no doubt in any thoughtful mind in the complete solvenoy of onr nation, nor can there be any just apprehension that the American people will be satisfied with less than an honest payment of onr public obligations in the recognized money of the world. We shonld not overlook the fact, however, that aroused fear is unreasoning and must be taken into account in all efforts to avert public loss and the sacrifice of our people’s interests. “The real and sensible cure for onr recurring troubles can only be effeted by a complete change in onr financial scheme. Pending that, the executive branch of the government will not re¬ lax its efforts or abandon its determin- 1.00 A Year. ation to use every means within its reach to maintain before the world American credit, nor will there be any hesitation in exhibiting its confidence in the resources of ouroountry and the constant patriotism of our people. In view, however, of the peculiar situa¬ tion now confronting us, I have ven¬ tured to herein express the earnest hope that the congress in default of the inauguration of a better system of finance will not take a recess from its labors before it has by legislative en¬ actment or declaration done some¬ thin'? not only to remind those apprehensive among onr people that the resouroes of this gov¬ ernment and a scrupulous re¬ gard for honest dealing afford a sure guarantee of unquestioned safety aud soundness, but to reassure the world that w itli these factors and the patriotism ox our citizens, the ability and determination of our nation to meet in any circumstances every obli¬ gation it incurs do not admit of ques¬ tion. “I ask at the hands of the congress such prompt aid as it alone has the power to give to prevent in a time of fear and apprehension any saerifice of the people’s interests and the public funds or the impairment of our public credit in an effort by executive action to relieve the dangers of the present emergency. “Grover Cleveland.” GROWTH OF THE SOUTH. The Industrial Condition as Reported for the Past Week. Report* as to southern industrial and business conditions for the past week show that no unusual activity exists, while there is little or no fall- i ng off in the amount. Cotton is not coming forward. Large planters are j n condition to hold their cotton for the higher prices which they believe will be realized before the new Beason. Late returns as to the amount of cot- ton on hand show that it has been un¬ deresitmated. Strong efforts will be made to influence the planting of a limited nrea^ Southern cotton mills are busy, and inorease in number from week to week. A good many knitting mills are being put in op- eration, and there is an increase i n the number of woolen mills. The Bat of new textile mills for the week includes cotton mills at Aloun- tain, N. C., and Chesterfield, S. c., knitting mills at Atlanta, Ga., an d Martinsville, Va., and wool- en m ills at Knoxville, Tenn. The agreed upon reduction in the out- p „t Q [ p j ae lumber has gone into effect, and by its terms the supply will a ot be in excess of the demand, and a f fl i r amonn t 0 f business will result, Other kinds of lumber are steady, but a ot j a excessive demand, and prices i are we u maintained. Iron production j continues unchanged. Large orders are less plentiful, but many small ones are received from day to day, and or¬ ders yet unfilled will keep the furnaces in active operation for some time to come. Coal is firm at unchanged prices, and the output in the southern field is not accumulating in first hands. Manufacturing and mercantile busi¬ ness continues fair, but there is no ex¬ cessive demand. Among the new industries incorpo¬ rated or established during the week are: The Howard Oak Leather Co. of Buena Vista, Va., capital $1,000,- 000; the Gordon Cooperage Co., Ltd. of New Orleans, La., capital $100,000, and the S. G. Webb Chemical Co. of Richmond, Va,, with $50,000 capital. The Black Diamond Coal Co. has been chartered at Rockdale, Texas, with $40,000 capital; a $25,000 barrel fac¬ tory is reported at Memphis, Tenn., the Reid Oil and Gas Co. of Wheeling, W. Va., capital $25,000, and the Southern Stationery Co., capital $25,- 000, has been chartered at New Or¬ leans, La. The Camp Carriage Co., capital $12,500, has been incorporated at Jackson, Aliss., and the Hibbard Alining and Alnnufaoturing Co., with $10,000 capital, at Camden, Ark. There is also reported a oanning fac¬ tory at Jessamine, La.; a cotton oil mill at Heidelburg, Miss.; electrical plants at Lake City, Fla., and Green¬ ville, N. C., and a grist mill at Birm¬ ingham, Ala. Iron and wire works are to be established at Memphis, Tenn.; coal mines are to be opened at Paintsville, Ky., and iron mines at Troutville, Va. ; a packing house is to be built at Arkansas Pass, Texas, and new woodworking plants are reported on a large scale in Baker Co., Fla., at Lancaster, 8. 0., and Memphis, Tenn. The new buildings of the week in¬ clude a $12,000 church at Valdosta, Ga., a $15,000 church at Athens, Ga., a $100,000 club house at New Orleans, La., and a $35,000 residence at Law- renceville, Va.—Tradesman (Chatta¬ nooga, Tenn.l LEASED TWO LINES. N. C. & St. L. Has Taken Possession oi Roads Bought by the L. & N. The Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis railroad has leased from tho Louisville and Nashville, the Midland recent purchaser, the Tennessee road, extending from the Tennessee river to Memphis, and the Paducah, Tennessee and Alabama railroad, froBji Paducah, Ky., to Lexington, Tenn. Possession of these roads has been taken.