Newspaper Page Text
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JEICE, $1.50 A YEAS, IE ADVANCE.
Published Every Thursday Homing.
fno.H. HODGES, Editor and Publisher
Perky, Thursday, January 5.
The errors of 1899 should be used
as danger signals during 1898.
The year 1899 will be very much
as the people make it, materially.
The cotton crop of 1899 will not
pay debts made in or before 1898.
Cuba is now in possession of the
United States. What will we do
with it?
Congress is again in session, and
expansion expenses and policies must
be considered.
In 1899 there will be less debt
making in Georgia than for any year
since the war between the states.
The creditor must continue to re
member that a man may fail to pay
his just debts, and yet be honest.
A conflict in the Philippine Is
lands' between the insurgents and
United States troops seems immi
nent.
Twenty-three new cotton facto
ries were established in the south
last year. The increase will proba
bly be greater this year.
Cotton for delivery next October
is now selling for less than 5 cents a
pound, computed from the stand
point of the home market.
Gen. Fitzhcgh Lee is in com
mand of the province of Havana,
with Gen. Ludlow commanding the
military forces of the city,
This year, 1899, will go on record
as one encompassing more general
and true economy than ever before
known among progressive people.
During the January term of Bibb
Superior court a negro soldier will
be tried for murder. He is charged
with killing another negro soldier in
Macon.
The creditor who will “bear and
forbear” yet awhile, will get more
finally than will he who uses the full
force of the law to collect that which
is due.
It is said the many underground
railways and numerous other exca
vations beneath London are serious
ly threatening the foundation of
that city.
The troops now at Macon are un
der orders to go to Cuba, but it will
be thirty days before they all get
off. Mere soldiers will probably be
sent to Macon.
Mr. Claud H. Troutman, of Quit-
man, son of Col. J. H. Troutman of
Fort Valley, is the new steward of
the Georgia State Sanitarium—the
state lunatic asylum..
*-0—4
Hon. J, P. S. Gobin has been in
augurated lieutenant governor of
P'ennsylvania while serving as brig
adier general in the volunteer army
of the United States.
The local price of kerosene oil
went up 5 cents a gallon last week.
Perhaps the trust is simply making
the people pay the Christmas ex
penses of its millionaire officials.
Senor Matias Bomeo, ambassador
of Mexico to the United States, died
in Washington City last Friday.
The immediate cause of his death
was an operation for the cure of ap
pendicitis.
Recently delegations of negroes
from several northern and north
western states have presented me
morials to President McKinley con
cerning the late political upheaval in
the Carolinas. -' >
It is said the Virginia-Carolinas
Chemical Company has developed
into a gigantic guano trust, having
purchased factories making more
than half the commercial fertilizers
used in the United States.
The man who honestly does the
best he can will not materially suffer
in business during 1899. The man
who buys on credit more than he
believes he can pay for is not hon
estly doing the best he can.
Allow this year that your oppo
nent has the same right to an opin
ion that you have, and that it is pos
sible for him to know as much as
you do, and a much needed reform
will be accomplished. This is ad
dressed to whom it may concern.
English papers say Europe has
been amazed and irritated by the
expansion of the United States,
without daring to interfere. The
London Spectator says: “The pow
ers are apprehensive^ that the change
may compel a defensrri=Tcoalition of
the military powers of Europe.”
Hereabout there was a marked
contrast between the last day of the
old and the first of the new year.
The last day of the old year there
were clouds, and mist and rain. The
first day of 1899 was cloudless,
bright, full of snnshine. May this
prove a true index to the character
of the entire year, with onlyjjenough
cloud and rain to supply the needs
of nature’s dependents.
Schools and the Children.
The public schools of Georgia are
free to all the children of the state
between the ages of 6 and 18, and
without price, other than the cost of
text bookc, all can obtain a substan
tial education. To pay for this the
state furnishes over one million dol
lars. Of this amount, $800,000 is a
direct appropriation from the state
treasury. Of course the sum last
named is first paid into the treasury
taxes levied upon the property of
the citizens.
The men and women of the state
who were children when this writer
was a boy did not enjoy this privil
ege. Our parents paid several dol
lars per month in tuition for all the
time each of us attended school.
Whether or not the principle is
right or wrong, it is essential to the
proper preparation for the duties of
life that the children should be as
thoroughly educated as the circum
stances will permit. The privilege
of a free common school education
belongs to every child, and the par
ent or guardian who fails to permit,
or enforce, its use by his child, fails
in the performance of a positive du
ty-
Last fall the Houston public
schools were not attended by as
many pupils as ought to have been
“at books,” and one or more schools
were closed for lack of sufficient pu
pils.
At the opening of the preseut
term of the Perry Public School the
attendance was less than it ought to
be.
Some parents are lacking in the
performance of duty to their chil
dren.
The county public schools will
open for the spring term next Mon
day, and it is hoped every child of
school age will attend.
For A Common Cause.
All things work together for the
good of those who wisely use ener
gy, honesty and persevereuce.
Houston deserves all the good
that can be said in behalf of the
county, and will furni.h an abnn
dance of good things to those who
strive eameastly and correctly
therefor. ' -
Be the cirizen a resident of town
or country,the upbuilding and im
provement of the county should
command his earnest approval.
In a general sense, a benefit to
the county is a benefit to every
person who lives in it.
There should be no antagonisms
between the citizens of town and
country, but all should co operate
each with the other for the im
provement of both. Increase the
wealth of the town, its population
increases in equal ratio, and the
market for country produce is en
larged and strengthened.
Given individual prosperity of
the farmera, and their demands
upon merchants for goods will be
more frequent and more valuable.
Cordial co-operation between
merchants and farmers, each will
ing to enhance the interests of the
other, and the interests of both will
bo advanced.
Let’s all work for Houston this
year, and we will serve ourselves
most admirably.
Powersvllle Items.
Mr. Editor—Please allow me space
Failure to attend school now may^ new f s . th f at
: il the new year 1899 brought with it.
be regretted in after years. Failure
to acquire an education within the
school period of childhood and youth
will surely be regretted afterward.
The lack of education is the sure
lack of business equipment, and suc
cess is not likely to become the por
tion of those who are not equipped
for its acquirement. The lack of ed
ucation will surely curtail the meas
ure of social enjoyment when ma-
turer years come.
In writing this we do not presume
that we are telling anything our
readers do not know, but in our
earnestness for the advancement of
our people in all things essential to
happiness and prosperity, we would
insist that they do not slight the
great privilege that is ready for
them to use.
The Government’s New Year.
The new year 1899 has opened
freighted with greater responsihili-
for the United States than any- oth
er new year ever contained.
On the first day of the new year
the island of Cuba passed into mili
tary control of the United States.
Prior to that date Hawaii had be
come a territory of this country by
annexation, while Porto Rico had
passed into our possession by virtue
of conquest.
Further, by treaty the Philippine
Islands have been ceded by Spain to
the United States.
The new year finds us, a union of
states, the land of freemen, exercis
ing control over foreign peoples on
lands in another continent. The sit
uation is as new as the year. What
is in store for the one is as clear now
as the revelations the other has in
store.
There is much that is distasteful
to the average American citizen in
this condition of affairs,and to many
the belief prevails that there is much
ahead that is far from desirable.
The problem this government
must solve is full of disagreeable an
gles, and serious complications may
arise. Our statesmen must meet
great and grave responsibilities.
Heretofore their wisdom and patri
otism have been equal to every
emergency, and- we must hope they
will not fail us now in the supreme
time of oiu- existence as a great and
just government.
The sovereignty of Spain over Cu
ba was transferred to the United
States, in Havana, last Sunday at
noon. The ceremonies were simple,
and there was practically no disor
der. Cuban generals were present,
but there was no parade of Cuban
troops, nor any demonstration~"by
the Cuban people. The Spanish flag
was saluted by U. S. guns, and when
hoisted the U. S. flag was saluted by
Spanish guns. The Spanish Captain
General, Castellanos, formally deliv
ered the'command of the island to
Gen. Wade, and he in turn transfer
red it to Gen. Brooke. The partici
pating U. S. officers were: Gens.
Brooke, Chaffee, Wade, Lee, Butler,
Ludlow and Clous, Capt. J. S. Hart,
interpreter, and Senator John W.
Daniel, of Virginia.
The most important news we have
to relate is the appointment of Mr.
H. W. English postmaster at this
place. I think Mr. English feels
proud of the appointment, as he
made but little effort to get the
office. His name went before the
official department without any pe
tition. This community feels con
gratulated on having such an honor
able and upright citizen for their
postmaster, and feels satisfied the
department made no mistake in hon
oring him with the office.
The farmers are determined on
making something to eat. Some of
us are finishing up our wheat sow
ing, as rain prevented us from sow
ing sooner. I am satisfied we will
use less guano and plant less cotton.
Labor is plentiful at five to seven
dollars per month.
Hope you a prosperous year.
X.
A Fine Piece of Color Work.
An experienced art critic gives it
as his opinion that there will be no
handsomer piece of color work is
sued this year than Hood’s Sarsapa
rilla Calendar for 1899. It is not
only useful, but artistic and beauti
ful, and up-to-date. The charming
“American GiiT’whose beautiful face
appears with a .delicately painted
flag in the background, makes a
pleasing feature which anyone will
be pleased to have before him the
whple of 1899. We suppose drug
gists will have this calendar, or a
copy may be obtained by sending 6
cents to C. I. Hood & Co., Lowell,
Mass.
—Coroner Schilling held an in
quest lest Monday morning over
th e dead body of Emma McIntosh
a negro woman about 40 years old
who was dead in her bed, on a farm
a few miles east of Perry, when
her husband awoke at day break
that morning. She Cooked and ate a
hearty supper the night before, her
husband and daughter testified,
and was awake and in apparent
good health at one o’clock. In ac
cord with this testimony and the
opinion of the examining physi
cain, a verdict was rendered that
natural causes produced death. It
is believed heart disease billed her.
ALL COTTON FALLACY
OLD BLUNDER THAT FARMERS
SHOULD AVOID IN THE
COMING YEAR.
RAISE SUPPLIES AT HOME
—Houston farmera are not i
actly settled concerning their crop
operatiens for 1899, bat we gather
from their conversation that cotton
and guano will not occupy so much
of their attention and land as they
did last year. The county probably
holds more meat and corn than for
many years, and the grain crop al
ready planted is much larger than
usual. The proverbial Huustoa en-
ergy, perseverence and good sense
will surely win ont all right.
:
—Sheriff’s sales and County
Commisioners’ court attracted a
The question of currency reform in' considerable crowd of people to
the United States “will not down,” j Perry Tuesday, and the appearance
though there be those who ridicule; of business pervaded the town,
the idea that the demand for free Some of the property advertised
coinage of silver will continue to be
the paramount issue in our national
politics. The results of the war must
be considered-, and the changed con-
WB8 estopped of sale by the inter
vention of claims, agreement of
settlement, etc. The property sold
brought fair prices, with the ex-
ditions furnished ample provision, brought tair prices, witn 1
but home affairs of business must : ception of some live Btock.
necessarily occupy the chief place in
the minds of statesmen.
To The Public
j We are authorized to guarantee
-Capt HE. Gilbert came np every bottle of Chamberlins Congb
. „ , .n , j , Remedy and if not satisfactory to
from Savannah last Saturday and’ ref and the money to the purchaser,
remained untill Monday afternoon., There is no better medicine made
He expects to go to Cuba sooni f or j a grippe, colds and whooping
with his regiment. His friends cough . p r j ce} 25 and 50c per bottle
were glad to see him, and to note Try it. Holtzclaw & Gilbert,Perry,
that he is in robust health. 1 and L. W. Stewart, Myrtle, Ga.
Time Has Arrived to Stop Relying on
a Crop Which Sells Below
Cost of Production.
Atlanta, Jan. 1, 1899.
The beginning of the new year is upon
us and 1898, with all its hopes and dis
appointments, is a thing of the past. It
will be well for each of ns at this time,
before we commence our work for the
year, to take a calm and thoughtful
view of the situation, and then to act as
become sensible men.
What, then, do we find to be the con
dition of the average Georgia farmer at
this time? After working 12 months to
make and gather a large cotton crop,
has he any money left from its sale? I
say emphatically no. Those farmers are
fortunate indeed who have been able to
pay the debts incurred by them in mak
ing the last cotton crop, the vast ma
jority having unpaid acconnts -against
them either for guano, meat, corn or
goods of other kinds.
Has the average Georgia farmer a
supply of corn, oats, hay and fodder,
with which to feed his stock of every
kind until he can make another crop?
Has he plenty of homemade meat and
flour and syrup, with which to feed all
hands on his farm for the next ten
months? Are his mules,' and horses,
and cattle, and hogs, and sheep in good
order and well cared for, now in the
midst of a cold, long winter? Has he
an abundance of poultry of all kinds,
well housed and well fed? Has he
plenty of - good milk and butter from
graded Jersey or Holstein cows? Has
he a rich garden from which he can
daily gather the winter vegetable to add
to his bill of fare? To all these ques
tions I must regretfully answer no. And
yet I assert positively that all these are
within easy reach of every land owner
in Georgia who will throw off the curse
of all cotton growing, and return to the
ways of our fathers.
Shall we continue to grow and sell
cotton below the cost of production (to
the great delight of the balance of man
kind, who care nothing for our suffer
ings) until total ruin overtakes ns, or
shall we make a united and determined
effort to raise our own supplies in abun
dance, and thus make our cotton crop
an absolute snrplns? I see no hope for
our farmers save to adopt the. latter
plan and stick to it regardless of the
price of cotton. Don’t delude yourself
with the idea that your neighbors will
diminish their cotton acreage and there
fore yon will increase yours in the hope
of getting a good price. There could be
no greater mistake of judgment than
this, as the selfish farmer so acting will
find to his cost at the end of the season.
If Georgia made no cotton this year,
the loss would doubtless be made up by
the yearly increased acreage of rich cot
ton lands brought into cultivation west
of the Mississippi river. We had better
prepare ourselves for a long period of
low-priced cotton, for the outlook prom
ises nothing else, and being prepared,
we can better endure snch a calamity.
For 33 years we have relied on cotton
alone with which to purchase every
thing else. Daring that time we have
made not less than 20,000,000 of bales,
worth at a moderate estimate, fully
$800,000,000. What has become of this
vast amount of money, which, if kept
at home, would have made ns one of the
richest state; in the Union? It has all
gone to pay the farmers and manufac
turers of the north and east for supplies
of various kinds, every item of which
we could and should have produced
within our own borders. Suppose we
had made only 10,000,000 bales in the
past 33 years, and in addition
had produced all the supplies that
we have bought from other states,
is it not self evident that we would be
better off by $400,000,000 than we are at
present? The entire property of the
state, cities included, is now bnt a little
over $400,000,000, and the fanners of
Georgia ought alone to have been richer
by this vast amount, had they not been
delnded by the all-cotton fallacy.
Look around yon in your different
communities and note the successful
farmers of yonr acquaintance; invaria
bly you will find them to he the men
who have diversified their crops and
raised their own snpplies. No state or
section can prosper that relies entirely
on one crop. Kansas tried it with wheat,
until most of her farms were mortgaged,
and she was only saved from utter ruin,
it is said, by the “hen and the cow.”
Now, with diversified farming, she is
again on the road to prosperity.
I write as a farmer to farmers, know
ing and appreciating the difficulties in
the way, but I believe they can all be
overcome by a persistent and determined
effort in the rignt direction. I by no
means advise the abandonment of cot
ton culture, for we have no other money
crop upon which we can with absolnte
certainty depend; bnt I do urge upon,
and plead with -each and every farmei
in the state, to plant no seed of cotton,
until he has planted such an acreage of
each and every other crop that will
grow on his land, that, let the season he
dry or wet, he will be assured of abun
dant and varied provision crops. In ad
dition to this let proper - attention be
given to the raising of stock of all kinds,
particularly cattle, hogs and poultry.
With proper management, it is easier
and cheaper to raise a pound of pork or
a pound of any kind of poultry, than it
is to raise a pound of cotton, and yet a
j pound of pork is worth as much and a
pound of poultry from two to three
, times as much as a pound of cotton.
The papers stated that Atlanta alone
used 10,000 turkeys on Thanksgiving
day, and I venture to say that nine-
tenths of them came from Tennessee
and Kentucky.. What a commentary
on our method of farming 1
A good beginning has been made in
the right direction in the sowing of the
largest wheat crop probably in the late
history of the state. A fair crop of fall
oats has also been planted, bnt the acre
age should be doubled or trebled with
out delay. Prepare to plant a good com
crop, not less than ten to 12 acres to the
plow; and be sure to either broadcast
field peas in yonr corn at the last plow
ing, or drop them on, or by the side of the
corn rows at the second plowing. Then
prepare not less than five acres to the
plow for such crops as groundpeas, po
tatoes, sugarcane, millet, etc. After
that, put ten acres, and no more, in
cotton, regardless of who mar advise
yon to the contrary. A crop like this
will give yon 25 acres to the plow, and
that is enough for North Georgia,
though in Middle and Sonth Georgia, a
few more acres might be cultivated in
corn or groundpeas.
Bny as little gnano as possible, bnt
use all the homemade fertilizers that
yon can get together between this and
planting time.
Stop buying hoehandles, axhelves,
hames and other things that yon can
and should make at home on rainy days.
Never go to town^. with an empty
wagon, but always carry something to
sell, if only a load of wood.
Bny nothing on credit if you can pos
sibly avoid it. Better suffer Borne pri
vations than go in debt.
If we would be independent and pros
perous, we mnst farm on the lines sug
gested. No other road will lead us ont
of the woods in which we are now al
most hopelessly lost—bnt if we will fol
low the course I have endeavored to
blaze ont, we will in a short time he a
happy, prosperous and con tented people.
In the laudable effort to become self
sustaining, all mnst lend a hand. The
merchants and the landlords can greatly
aid in the good work by not insisting
that their customers and tenants shall
plant a large cotton crop in order to get
supplies. This course, hitherto pur
sued, has resulted in greatly increasing
the cotton acreage, to the serious in
jury—I may even say almost rnin—of
all hands concerned. If they would try
the opposite course, extending aid and
credit only to those who make their
food snpplies, how different and how
gratifying wonld be the result. I ap
peal particularly to the merchants, who,
by their insistence on a large cotton
acreage before credit wonld be extended,
have practically “killed the goose that
laid the golden egg.” Let them “face
about” and refnse credit to their cus
tomers who may contemplate planting
a large cotton acreage. If snch a course
should be adopted and carried out, it
needs no gift of prophecy to foretell
that a vast amonnt of poverty and suf
fering wonld be banished from our
state.
I am more than willing to help on this
good cause by every means in my power,
and the greatest reward that the con
duct of this department could offer me
wonld be the satisfaction of feeling that
I had aided, even though in a very small
degree, in restoring to the suffering
farmers - of Georgia, that plenty and
prosperity which they once enjoyed.
O. B. Stevens, Commissioner.
99c
Suit of
Heavy
Underwear
. D. TODD & GO,,
The New Clothiers,
Parlor Car and Sleeping Car Service
Between Atlanta and “Albany, Ga.-
The Central of Georgia Railway Compa
ny has inaugurated Parlor Car and
Sleeping Car service between Atlanta
and Albany, Ga.., on train leaving Alba
ny 4:15 a. m., arrriving at Macon 7:40 a.
m., Atlanta 11:20 a. m., and on train
leaving Atlanta 4:05 p. m., arriving at
Macon 7:20 p. m., Albany 11 .-05 p. m.
Passengers ‘from Albany, Ga., holding
berth tickets can take sleeper at 8p. m.,
thus allowing them to remain in sleeper
overnight. Passengers-arriving Albany
11:05 p.- m. may remain in sleeper until
7:00 a. m. Rate for double berth in
sleeper, 150 miles and under, $1.50; over
150 miles, $2.00.
Charges for seats as follows; 50 miles
and under, 25 cents;. 51 miles to 125
miles, 50 cents; 126 miles to 200 miles,
75 cents; 201 miles to 300 miles $1.00,
Enterprising Druggists.
There are few men more wide
awake aDd enterprising than Holfz-
clawjfe Gilbert, who spare do paiDS
to secure the best of everything in
their line Eor their many custom
ers. They now have the valuable
agency for Dr. King’s New Dis
covery for Consumption, Coughs
and Colds. This is the wonderful
remedy that is producing such a
farore all over the country by its
many sartliDg cores It absolutely
cares Asthma, Bronchitis, Hoarse
ness and all affections of the Throat,
Chest and LuDgs. Call at abo\e
drugstore aud get a trial bottle free
or a regular size for 50 cents and
$1.00. Guaranteed to cure or price
refunded.
There’s
JS o.poor work dqne where
our Clothes come fiom. You’ll
find substantiaLc&iings in every
Coat. You’ll find strong- pock
ets in every pair of Pants, and
if you trade with us for any
length of time you’ll need strong-
pants pockets to carry what
50c
For Neckwear
Selling every
where for 75c.
YOU SAVE.
519 Cherry Street,
M VCDN, GA.
$10-$12.50
Special
Suit
Sale.
FIRE SALE OF FINE SHOES.
.Recently there was a fire m the rear end of the Roches
ter Shoe Co’s. Store, which caused a great deal of smoke,
and some water was thrown on the goods. The Owners
and Insurance Companies could not agree, so we bought
the stock of $21,500 for $S,500, or about 40 cents on the
dollar. We are closing them out at 50 cents on the dollar.
So come and get the greatest bargains in footwear that you
ever saw. This stock consisted entirely of the finest makes
of shoes.
E. B. HARRIS & COMPANY.
THE “SHOE BROKERS,”
Corner Cherry ahd Third Sts., - - Macon, Ga-
JNO. C. EADS.
JOS. N. NEEL.
The old Reliable, Reunited Clothiers*
Better prepared than ever to serve
our Houston County friends’. We
want your trade and confidence. At
the old stand,
552-554 Cherry Street.
For the
.Holiday Trade
Sam Weichselbaum
416 Third Street,
MACON, GA.
PRICE LIST
Kentucky Blue Grass
Per Gal.
$2.00
Kentucky Elk Run
2.50
T. B. Ripey
3.00
Kentucky Mellwood
3.50
Pembroke Pennsylvania Rye
4.00
Best North Carolina Corn...
2.00
Old North Carolina Corn
2.50
New England Rum
2.00
Juniper Gin
2.00
Imperial Holland Gin
2.50
Sweet Wines
1.25
SEND YOUR ORDERS EARLY.
^“Express charges paid on
all gallon
orders, and over.
W O. DAVIS.
. ATTORNEY-AT-LAW,
PERRY, GEORGIA.
Having retired from -military service,
the practice of law is resumed.
Office in Masonic Building: up stairs.
moneyT
Loans negotiated on improved
farms, at lowest market rates, and on
most liberal terms.
Business of fifteen years standing.
More than three million dollars in
loans negotiated. Facilities unsur-
ssed. HOWARD H. SMITH,
Ho. 814 Second St.. Macon, Ga.
Our stock is now replete with the latest styles and
most unique designs in Walnut. Golden Oak and Quarter
ed Oak Bedroom Suits: Sideborrds, the prettiest ever of
fered for the money: Wardrobes and Combination Book
cases and Desks at lowest prices. Beautiful line of In
grains righi from the sheep to the finished product. Mat
tings, Rugs. Chintz Portiers and Table Scarfs in abund
ance at prices never before offered, Fine line of Canvass
Trunks, only the best. Stoves only the bestj “The Pearl
Anchor” has no equal. Rockers, a beautiful line in many of tbe
latest patterns; finish and vorkmanship unexcelled.
We offer any of tbe above at great bargains, and will discount all
competitors’ prices. Call to see us, examine the goods, and get unheard
of prices.
The A. 8. Thomas Furniture Company,
420 POPLAR STREET, MACON, GA.
If You Want
HOUSTON COUNTY BUSINESS,
ADVERTISE IN
The SOME JQVmNJkL,
PUBLISHED WEEKLY, AT
ZPEIRZRIT, G-EORG-IA,
Tire C0Ta.ra.t3r Site-
OFFICIAL ADVERTISING MEDIUM OF THE
COUNTY. OFFICERS.
OOEEECT PRICES.