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THE WEEKLY CONSTITUTION: TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 1832.
NORTHERN GEORGIA
ENTHUSIASTICALLY DESCRIBED AS
THE IMMIGRANT’S PARADISE.
Her Sold and Silver lines. Ear Diamond* and Other
Freoioua Stonei, Her Fruits, Her Fains, Her
* Summer Heeorte, Her Health, Wealth,
Hoonahinera and Other Attraction*.
Louisville Courier-Journal.
Dahlonega, Ga., March 8, 1882.—The up
lands of Georgia are licr gold lands, which
carry a burden of bullion gold far more val
uable than all the cotton she ever grew or
may grow, for, with the enlightenment outlie
prosperous new era of which Georgia boasts
so much, agricultural industries are so swiftly
varying that king cotton is going to the wall.
The state has three and a half million acres of
gold-bearing grounds. This area is inter
spersed with land which carries underneath it
multitudinous mineral wealth, which em
braces fully 165 different minerals. Among
the most valuable and useful of these are
gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron, coal,
mica, asbestos, graphile or block lead, marble,
limestone, granite, corundum, soapstone,
kaolin, clay, marl, gypsum, diamonds, sap
phires, rubies, beryl, opal, tourmaline, gar
nets, emerald, cornetian, agate and other
gems and minerals. The farthest south gold
has been mined is in Meriwether county.
Quite one-half of the state’s area is covered
with a formation of auriferous rocks, consist
ing of granite, gneiss mica, slate, syenite and
porphyry. As it is, north Georgia has the
OLDEST GO D MINING
camp in the United States—the Dahlonega
mining district, llied’s mine, in North Caro
lina, was worked by white men long before
the Cherokee Indians, who possessed this
country, were induced to show where in it
they found their nuggets and dust. Never
theless, the same Cherukces sold gold to the
whites of Virginia and traders 200 years or
moro ago. The immense rings of gold for the
ears and nose, which were worn by so many
chieftains and warriors spoken of in Ameri
can history, were made from gold washed out
and picked up by theCherokees in this same
gold belt of Georgia. They, too, had in their
crude way learned the art of fashioning their
gold into rings nud other ornaments. In
S outh I used to meet hunters who
ad passed many seasons among the
Cherokees; they had seen the Indians mak
ing ornaments. They made bowls or rude
crucibles out of soapstone, which abounds
hero in large quantities, and which makes a
very superior fire-proof crucible. Over a pit
filled nvith pitch pine the bowls were placed,
and the gold melted to a mass, and before
cooling hard they separated it into smaller
pieces of equal size, as near os they could
judge. Then another soapstone bowl was
placed on the ground and charcoal placed in
it. Over this charcoal a plate of soapstone
was laid. The coal was then ignited. The
artisan wno manipulated gold foT jewelry
had four assistants to aid him in his work.
Kaoh of these had a hollow cane about four
feet in length, through which ho blew upon
the coal in the crucible or bowl, thus creat
ing a white heat and making the gold laid on
the plate most easily managed. Itound,
‘pointed jasper or other flinty stones were
used, instead of rounded iron, on which to
form the rings. Flat, hard stones were used
as anvils, and stones for hammers. Thus
rings and breast-pins, necklaces and other
ornaments were made long before Columbus
discovered America, and before the beautiful
Cherokee princess, Toocoa, had her vision in
which she saw great sheets of white-sailed
canoes filled with moon-faced people coining
over the great waters to dispossess "her people
of this beautiful land. There are legends, and
legends never published, which the Cherokees
handed down and told those of this region
in their youth and before the moon-faced
people drove the savages, so called, from
theso hills, mountains and valleys of north
ern Georgia, southwestern South Carolina,
southeastern Tennesseo and the southern dis
trict of North Carolina. **
ONE STORY
that they told is proving correct, that gold is
everywhere, in valleys, in pebbly stream bot
toms, in wide streaks (veins), in hills and
mountains. There aro mills at work in Dah
lonega with 280 stamps pounding out the yel-
Iow.mctal. New mills to work 250 stampsad-
diflonal aro in process of erection. The boom
in the old camp whero Calhoun, Clay, Cobb,
Judge Berien and others mined, 1830, 1840,
has begun in practical earnestness. Many lots
have been sold this winter to capitalists who
attended the cotton exposition and saw the
rich mineral specimens of northern Georgia
on exhibit there. Fully 1,000 stamps will be
in operation here by the first of next October.
The English owners of the famous
Emma silver mine, of Utah, have
had an agent purchasing gold grounds
and water privileges in this region during the
last nine months. The ground he has secured
for them is mostly on the Etowah river, a
stream from beneath whose tides millions in
nuggets and dust have been washed. A syn
dicate of New York capitalists have just
closed the purchase of seven lots of forty
acres each, or 280 acres. Ten miles of grad
ing is completed on the Gainesville and Dah
lonega narrow-gauge railroad. The length of
the road is twenty-five miles. It connects
with the Piedmont Air-line railroad at
Gainesville, and, when finished in Septem
ber, will be of material assistance to the mine
owners, miners and other citizens, including
visitors who are coming into this region by
hundreds.
Georgia has seventy odd gold mills at work.
One is giving a monthly product of about
$7,500. From a careful look over I cannot
sec why this belt will not produce $300,000
per month this season, and be prepared, with
sufficient machinery, by January next, to
produce $500,000 monthly for the year 1883.
The ore is here. All that is required io make
an immense yield is energy, good manage-
j ment, scientific superintendence and modern
automatic machinery. In tlieir rather crude
ways of working the mica, slate and other
more or less decomposed rocks of this region,
it coats but twenty-five cents per ton to mine
and mill gold-bearing ores.
DIAMONDS.
Although no such weighty gems as the
Pitt, Koh-i-noor, Saucy, the Shuh, Pigott or
the last great one recently found and now
being cut, have been found in the pebbly
bottoms lower than the hills and ridges of
iticolumite—their original matrix—thou
sands of smaller gems, from four carats
weight, have been picked up in Hall county
alone. No scientific or systematic search lias
ever been made for them. Yet here are great
hills or ridges of flexible sandstone—the
iticolumite Of Ilumbolt, which in Brazil,
as in Africa, give source to diamonds.
That future explorations will show up
treasures of the first gem none who under
stand their origin can doubt. Like other
precious gems, the diamond when found,
unless it has accidently been broken by get
ting between crushing weights, as great
rocks has an uninviting, rough coat. In the
neighborhood of some dykes of corundum in
Hall county a number of sapphires, rubies,
garnets and other gems have been found.
What will result from coming careful research
in the metalliferous and precious gem-bearing
regions none can tell. Signs as unalterable and
as prophetic as science can give tell that ex
ploration under care and experienced experts
will show that in our own sunny south lie
buried gems as rare, as priceless, as beauti
ful as Persia or Brazil or Africa have ever
exhibited. The land of the brave Cherokees
is pregnant with underground riches, while
the surface is fertile, the valleys, with
the washings of hill and mountain sides,
very rich, the woodlands thickly timbered,
rivers and creeks afford abundant water
power and thousands of springs give mineral
waters not excelled for purity, cold or me
dicinal virtues by any in the world. The
woods furnish timber, fuel and great quanti-
wot surpassed for lusciousness. And the deep
ravines have nooks and other places danger
ous for the “tenderfoot” to seek where una
dulterated corn iuice, apple brandy, black
berry brandy ana wild grape wines are manu
factured even abundantly in purity, to the
disgust of the zealous servants of Uncle Sam.
RUMMER RESORTS.
In this altitude and among these grand old
hills and mountains thousands annually oc
cupy hotels, farm houses, cottages, and even
caiup in tents. You can have 1.000 to 4,800
feet altitude above sea level in northern Geor
gia. Vegetables luxuriant in rankness here;
fruit flourishes; meats and game, as also fish
and fowl arc plentiful and cheap. The con
sequence is board of superior quality can be
supplied, with richly furnished rooms and
excellent attendance at from $15 to $30 per
month. A dozen new summer hotels are
being erected this spring, to open in May.
They are located here and there in attractive
spots hy cascades, waterfalls, rivers and al
ways where good shade and excellent drives
prevail.
Schools, seminaries, academies, colleg r s,
universities, factories, mills and agricultural
and mining industries never were in such a
healthy condition in Georgia as they are to
day. The press of Atlanta and of the coun
try repeatedly prophesies a grand new era
during the holding of the cotton exposition.
It is here.
REDISTRICTING.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OPIN
ION ON THE SUBJECT.
Attorney-General Clifford Anderaon’a ‘Written Opin
ion to Governor Colquitt—Citation of the Leals-
tive Acta—No Legal Obstacles in the Way
of Electing a Congresses«n at Large.
GUITEAU “AT HOME.
The Assassin, Ills Manner of LIT*, and the Elegant
Apartment. Occupied by lllm.
St. Louis. March 17.—An editorial letter
from Washington in the Post-Dispatch gives
a long account of a recent visit to Guiteau in
bis cell. The writer says Guiteau does not
look like any of his photographs, nor does he
resemble descriptions given of him by report
ers. He is, the letter says, a very common
place person, manifests great eagerness to
get money, and presents no sign of lunacy.
’ au-
day
publisher, Gibson, who is getting out another
coition of his book. “Truth,” at the author’s
expense. He has also given some money to
his sister for things she sent him. Last week
he sent $100 to Scoville, Ins lawyer; $50 to his
brother in Boston, and $200 to his publisher.
He handles greenbacks like a bank teller, and
talks about diflerent points and features of
his photos precisely as if he were behind a
counter selling ribbons or lace. Referring to
Guiteau’s sanity, the writer says the only ex
ception to the man’s perfectly rational and
common-place talk, duringthe visit, was when
the name of Gorham, editor of the National
Republican was mentioned; Guiteau imnte-
mediately changed his manner, and broke out
in a furious attack. With clenched fist, arm
raised and gesticulating, he cried out as loud
as his voice allowed that these stalwart papers
were all abusing Garfield until God’s man
came to remove him, and now they abuse
God’s man. This outburst was short, how
ever, and after it he was again all calm
ness and business. Evidently he thinks he
will not hang. He seems hopeful that in
some way he will, to use his own language,
“get relief.” He is allowed to read all the
New York and Washington newspapers, and
knows the change in public sentiment about
Garfield. He seemed'to be delighted at the
publication of the Rosecrans letters. He is,
he says, well satisfied with liis life, whatever
the end may be. He lives comfortably, has
two cells, one to sleep in and the other as a
sort of an office, in the most elegant jail I
ever saw. He feels his importance and
notoriety, enjoys ease, and for the first
time in his life a regular am
ple income. The wretch feels that even
if he be hanged, he' has cut at least a figure
in the world. The extraordinary kind and
generous treatment of the government makes
his last days the happiest and most comforta
ble of his whole life. Certainly no one can see
his surroundings and observe liis life with
out being touched by the remarkable charily
and consideration with which this miserable
assassin is allowed to transform the jail into a
place of luxury, comfortable, money-making
and notoriety seeking.
AN ENRAGED ALLIGATOR.
The Remarkable Conduct of a Monster G^uu County
»... fc*uurlun. 4
Rawkinsville News.
While on our way home from Savannah
Friday morning last Conductor F. M.
Duggar, of the Macon and Brunswick
railroad, related to us the following ac
count of the freaks of an enraged alli
gator: On last Wednesday morning Dr. Blaine
and Janies Wright, of Glynn county, went
out deer hunting, carrying with them two
young puppies unused to tracking and hunt
ing the deer. After remaining out in the
woods several hours, they heard the puppies
running through the swamp and barking
furiously at some kind of an animal. After
a few minutes the animal was bayed by
the dogs in water the depth of three
or four feet. The two gentlemen
hurried' to the dogs and found the
animal to be a cow. Mr. Wright then waded
to where the dogs were in order that he might
quiet and carry them away, and just as he
reached them a monster alligator attacked the
dogs. Thinking he could frighten the ugly
monster away and save his dogs, lie picked up
a cudgel lying near by and struck at the mon
ster several times, but without any effect to
wards dispelling his presence, and only to en
rage his ’gatorship to such an extent that lie
made several desperate lunges at the cow, and
finally he succeeded in seizing her by the
neck, and pullingherundertlie water drowned
her in a few minutes. The alligator then disap
peared and the gentlemen reiurned home for
the night. Next morning Mr. Wright went
down to where the cow was drowned the day-
before, and there beheld the alligator, the
conqueror of the cow, lying beside his victim,
as if guarding her. Mr. Wright fired five or
six shots into the alligator, and finally killed
it. When measured the monster proved to
be nearly twelve feet in length, one of the
largest ever seen in that section of the country.
Mr. James Wright is one of the most responsi
ble men in Glynn county, and he related this
to Mr. Duggar himself.
AN ATTEMP ' ED OUTRAGE.
Attorney General’s Office. State or
Georgia, Atlanta, Ga., March 11, 18S3.—
His Excellency A. H. Colquitt, Governor,
etc.—Sir: I am in receipt of your communi
cation requesting my opinion as to whether
the additional representative allowed the
state of Georgia by the apportionment act
recently passed by congress can be legally
elected by the voters of the state at large
under existing laws. The act provides that
“If the number, as hereby provided for,
for, shall be larger than it was before this
change, then the additional representative or
representatives allowed to said state
under this apportionment may be
elected by the state' at large and
the other representatives to which the state is
entitled by districts as now prescribed by law
in said state; and if the number hereby pro
vided for shall in any state be less than it was
before the change made, then the whole num
ber to such state hereby provided for shall be
elected at large unless the legislatures of such
states have provided or shall otherwise pro
vide before the time fixed by law for the next
election of representatives therein.”
The section quoted is founded on section 4,
article 1, of the constitution of the United
States, which declares that:
"The times, places and manner of holding
elections for senators and representa
tives shall be prescribed in eacii
state by the legislature thereof
but the congress may at any time by law make
or alter such regulations except rs to the
place of chooring senators.”
Congress lias, in pursuance of the power
thus derived, prescribed that the additional
representative to which Georgia is entitled
shall be elected by the state at large, unless
the legislature in toe meantime otherwise
provides; for although the word “may
employed, it means “shall,” according to a
well settled rule in the interpretation of stat
utes. In 7tli Georgia, page 81), Judge Warner
says: “The true rule tor the construction of
the word “may” in a statute is, that when
such statute concerns the public interest, or
affects the rights of third persons then the
word “may” shall be construed to mean must
or “shall;” and in 33d Georgia, page 419
Judge Jenkins says; “In the construction
of statutes may is held to mean shall in two
cases, viz: Where the thing to be done is “for
the sake of justice or for • lie public benefit.”
Chief J ustice Brown lays down the same rule
in 38th Georgia, page 542; see also
Dwarwis on statutes 712, 5tli Comyn’s digest,
top p. 330, title parliament letter R, 22 Aid.
Backnell’s case first Vernon, 152.
If it is claimed that the act provides no ma
chinery for holding the election the reply is
that it was unnecessary. That had been al
ready fully provided by our state legislation,
which it adopts by leaving it undisturbed.
That the machinery furnished by our state
laws is sufficient, is easily shown.
It is conceded that under our code the ma
chinery for holding elections in all the
nine congressional districts is ample. (See
sections 1297 and 1305 of the code) There is
no difficulty then in holding elections for
congressmen in the districts. When all the
nine district” have voted we have the vote of
the “state at large,” for there is no territory
and there are no voters outside these districts.
They are the “state at large.”
Under the law, as it now stands, each dis
trict will elect a congressman, and the nine
districts jointly (or the “state at large,”) will
elect another. Each voter in every district
will vote for a representative from that dis
trict and also for another ^representative to
which that district with the eight others ij
jointly entitled. We will thus have an elej
tion for each of the districts and forthe “sttf
at large.” It will only remain forthe governor
to “count up the votes” (in the not very ele-
f ant language of section 1308 of the code) and
eclare the result.
I cannot think it necessary for me to elab
orate.
It is almost needless to add that in my
opinion there is no legal obstacle in the way
of electing a congressman from the state at
large. Very respectfully,
Clifford Anderson,
' Attorney General.
ELBERT AND AUGUSTA.
A Spring Tale Negro Forcibly Enters a House and
Trie* to Outrage Two Ladle*.
Cuthbert Appeal.
On Saturday night a negro man forced an
entrance into the house of Mr. Buck Smith,
living near Spring Vale, this county, tor the
purpose of outraging the person of two young
ladies who were alone. Mr. Smith being ab
sent from home. The young ladies made their
escape in their night clothes, but were closely
pursued by the villain, and a few hundred
yards frolu the house one of them was over
taken when a fierce struggle ensued, the lady
succeeding in rescuing herself from the
clutches of the fiend, and by her cries for help
caused him to desist, when she proceeded to
the residence of Mr. Quattlebaom. where
tiie two young ladies spent the night.
Early on Sunday morning search was insti
tuted for the rascal, and from the description
given a negro by the name of Jasper Reubins
was suspected,* and when brought upon
the road where the tracks were made the
night previous, it was evident the right party
had been apprehended. A warrant was at
once sued out, and on Monday niornnig a
hearing was had before a magistrate who com
mitted him to jail to await an investigation
before the superior court in May. The good
people of Spring Vale were highly incensed
at tne attempted outrages, and the use of
hemp was strongly urged by some. The bet
ter plan prevailed, however, and Jasper is
now in jail.
Brunswick Sweet Potatoes.
Brunswick Advertiser.
The sweet potato crop of this section has
been a paying one the past season. The de
mand has* been greater than the supply. Hun
dreds of bushels have been shipped to the in
terior, and the cry is, “still more wan'ed.” It
used to pay to raise sweet potatoes at twenty-
five cents per bushel, and when a man real
ized thirty-one and a half cents he thought
_ he was doing extra well. They now sell at
ties of wild fruits, including grapes which are ' over double the latter figure by the quantity.
Some Facta and Flcure* of General State Interest
Augusta Chronicle.
The trade of Elbert county may seem a
small inducement for the construction of so
expensive a work as a railroad, but those who
think that this is all that would be gained by
connecting Elberion with Augusta do not un
derstand the situation. Rail connection with
Elberton means the concentration of the com
merce of the counties of Elbert. Hart, Madi;
son. Banks, Hall, Habersham, Rabun, Towns
and White and portions of the two Curolinas
at Augusta. It means the return of the peo
ple of all this section to tlieir natural market
place. Like the inhabitants of Elbert, those
of this entire region earnestly desire to trade
with the commercial men of your city. This
connection by rail means, then, not only the
supply of merchants and planters with the
necessaries and luxuries of life, hut also the
augmentation of Augusta's cotton receipts by
perhaps 50,000 bales annually. It means even
more than all this. It almost assures the
building of the most direct route, through
Rabun Gap, to the west, which would place
Augusta sixty-five miles nearer Cincinnati
than by any other line. A glance at the
tuap will prove this. These are some of the-
inducements which occur to me now. Others
will doubtless suggest themselves to the
reader. The importance to Augusta of this
link of rails is patent to every one who
has given the subject proper thought. How
to do it, is the question. Elbert does not
care particularly what route is chosen. The
Washington brunch might be extended
thirty miles, or a branch built from Craw
ford—twenty-eight—when the Georgia road
would be the chief beneficiary, and, of course,
should be the chief investor. But, if the
Georgia road is debarred, by reason of tlie
lease, from constructing this line, which
promises so great profit to its treasury, then
there is still another way out of the diffi
culty. At a point about fifty miles
up the Savannah river, from Augusta,
is the burial ground of three of Georgia’s dead
towns. They bear upon the maps the high
sounding names of Lisbon, Petersburg and
Vienna, and are situated about the mouth of
Broad river, which itself affords sufficient
water power to turn every spindle in the
south. These towns were once prosperous
and populous, a thriving trade being carried
on by each of them—chiefly, however, by Pe
tersburg. From Elberton to Petersburg is a
ridge road twenty-two miles long, crossing
which there isonly one stream and it is a mere
branch. The grading of this route would not
cost a thousand dollars a mile. Five miles
from Petersburg is the Savannah Valiev
railroad, and it will, without doubt, be
builded at an early day. I believe Elbert
county would complete the grading at her
own expense and furnish the cross-ties, if Au
gusta would assure the connection from Pe
tersburg. Will the people of Augusta en
deavor to accomplish this much? Since Au
gusta, as a city, cannot issue bonds, the only
other way is to raise the sum needed by indi
vidual contribution, and from my knowledge
of Augusta business men, I am confident that
if three of them would take the matter in
hand they could easily obtain the funds req
uisite to push forward the great work, which
is only second in importance to the canal, vet
will not cost one-tenth the amount expended
on that improvement. Who will start the
ball? There is no truer maxim than “history
“repeats itself,” and the upper Savannah, as
well as Augusta, is destined by some means
to regain its lost prestige.
A Queer Covey.
Waynesboro Herald.
On Friday an unusual right was seen in
Waynesboro—a covey of partridges flying
through the streets at what really proved to
be break-neck speed. Tiic cause of it was
this: Si Jenkins, a colored man, brought in
eight or ten live partridges to sell. This came
to the knowledge of J. A. Polhill, president
of the Burke county game association, who,
knowing that Si had no land of his own, felt
sure that he had been violating the law in
reference to trapping birds. He therefore
went to the negro’s buggy and liberated the
birds. They, frightened, flew up and didn’t
take time to dodge obstructions. One struck
against the court house and was captured, one
flew into the post-office, one went crash
through the window of the barber shop next
door, while still another unceremoniouslyen-
tered the law office of Judge E. F. Lawson at
the rate of a mile a minute and was killed
stone dead by the blow against the wall. Mr.
Polhill also had Si arrested, but the solicitor,
not thinking that sufficient proof eonld be
had, dismissed the prosecution."
Thomasville Enterprise.
Thomasville Times.
The Thomasville cotton seed oil company
have purchased between two and three acres
of land, belonging to Mr. Parnell, lying be
tween the depot and the guano warehouse, for
the purpose of erecting their mill, warehouse,
machinery, etc. Work will becommeneed at
once. The brick necessary for the various
buildings are being hauled. Contracts for
the lumber have been made, and it will
be delivered promptly. The engines, ma
chinery, etc., has been bought, as noticed in
these columns last week, and will be here by
the time ilie buildings are ready to receive
them. This company is a strong one and
they are going to push the enterprise with
vigor. They will he ready for work by the
first of October. We understand that tiie
price pair! Mr. Parnell for the slip of land
was $1,000. We give the figures to show that
real estate in Thomasville, wherever located,
is valuable.
A Du iful Carrier. •.
Americus Recoider.
Every day Peter Baker, colored, brings to
Americus the Buena Vista mail and takes
back the Americus mail to that place and El-
laville. Last Wednesday he came in as usual,
did his business, mounted bis horse and start
ed back. After going about five miles his
horse got lame and could go no further. But
Peter was determined that the Buena Vista
people should not be disappointed by not re
ceiving the mail, so lie shouldered the sack
and “toted” it all the way, a distance of
about 22 miles, the only reiief he had bein^.
atEUaville, where he lefl.aportion of it. After
leaving Ellaville the sack weighed 15 pounds. •
If Peter is as careful in other matters as with
he mail, he may be a bloated bondlioideryet.
Cause and Effect.
Washington Gazette.
A large dealer in this place tells ns that he
has not sold more than twenty bales of hay
this winter, and not one of them to a farmer.
At this time last year he had sold nearly as
many carloads, and most of it to farmers.
This gentleman, who is a practical observant
man, says the farmers in this county are bet
ter off now than they have been in several
years. It was admitted last year that there
was a better corn crop raised in tiie county
than there had been in five years or more,
and the figures show the cotton receipts above
the average. Some of the farmers are paying
cash for tlieir guano this spring. We saw one
Wednesday who had just paid for six hundred
dollars’ worth.
A Child. Burned to Death.
Americus Recorder.
On W. W. Hook’s plantation, about six
miles from town, on Wednesday a negro child
nine years bid was burned to death. She
was playing near the fire, when her dress
happened to get too close and caught, envel
oping her froth head to foot in flames. Run
ning to a bed near by, she threw herself
upon it, and when found she was dead. An
other little child was playing in the room at
the time, nnd-when parties went into the
m the little one was found carrying water
k ,nd putting but the fire in the bed that had
caught by the girl’s dress coming in con
tact with it.
Gordon.
Milledgevillc Union.
Is now a very sober, well-behaved little
town. There is no liquor sold in the place,
and passengers on the Central have to go fur
ther to “wet their whistles.” Formerly there
was half dozen, or more, bar rooms in the
place, and the traffic was the chief source of
revenue to the little town. But the people
have bravely and wisely decided to do rigtit,
rather than "enjoy the* fruits of sin for a sea
son.” In the end there will be no regrets.
The marshal informs us that “since they quit
selling liquor he hiu: nothing to do.”
Petrified Fish.
Americus Republican.
Mr. P. D. Hilt city sexton, showed us two
stones, on Wednesday, that he claimed were
petrified jelly or star .fish. They were about
the size of a peach cut half in two, with a star
clearly defined on the convex side. One of
them was picked up in this city and the
other was brought from Stewart county.
These stones, shell, petrified fish, or whatever
th°y may be, are curiosities and were, we
believe, deposited in the Americus library by
Mr. Hill, for the investigation of the curious
and scientific.
STATE AND NATION.
HOW GEORGIA’S INTERESTS ARE
LOOKED AFTER.
The Petitions in Favor of Improving Savannah Har
bor-Senator Brown’s Aotion—Emory Speer’a
Chinese Speech—Soorgla’* New United
Slates Slatriot Court—Senatcr Hill.
Litigious Darkies,
firtinswick Advertiser.
Tiie average Liberty county darky delights
in going to law, not for what lie can get out of
his adversary, but for the supreme delight of
knowing that he made him pay the cost. One
sued another some time sitice for one-half of
a ten-cent watermelon, in which they had
jointly invested. His chum ate the whole
melon, hence the suit. His joy at making
said chum “pay de cost” far exceeded tiie loss
of his share of the melon.
A Spider Bite.
Newnan Ilerald.
Little Willie, son of Mr. J. S. and Fannie
Hyde, got bit on the second toe of the left
foot on Friday last, by a little black spider,
which caused his stomach and bowels to swell
until they were perfectly tight, followed with
pain in the head and jerking of the muscles
and great whelks all over the body, with high
fever, and it was with the utmost care in
treatment that the little sufferer’s life was
saved.
A Valuable Mare.
Cuthbert Appeal.
Rev. P. C. Harris, of this place, bought a
mare in 1864 for which he paid $1,400 in Con
federate money. He has sold colts folded by
this mare since he has owned her for $1,260 in
gold or its equivalent. He knows her to be
25 years old, yet would not take $10,000 for
her—in con fed. Mr. Harris now has some
colts from this mare that he considers worth
double what he paid for ller.
The Swiss Colonists.
Augusta Chronioie.
The Northeastern railroad, now completed
to Clarkesville, and soon to be extended to
Rabun Gap, is stimulating emigration and
the price of real estate in Habersham, Rabun
and even in the Tennessee valley beyond.
The Swiss colonists are planting vineyards and
making poor mountain ridges and vacant
lands to blossom with the fruits of their thrift
and steady industry.
Up a Tree.
Newnan Herald.
Carter Phillips, one of the three darkies who
escaped from the calaboose a few days since,
was captured last Saturday by Captain Robin
son with the aid of his bloodhound. He was
found perched on a tree in a swamp, feeling
sure that the dog wouldn’t find him there.
The other escaped prisoners will be captured
in a few days.
“Why Certainly.”
Albany News.
A young gentleman named Charles Moore,
of Dooly county, while inspecting some of
Kirk’s mules Wednesday, went in too close
proximity to the heels of one. His left side
is very sore, and it is probable several of his
ribs are broken.
Special Correspondence Constitution.
Washington, March 20.—The Georgia cities
are acting with great unanimity in asking a
decent appropriation for Savannah harbor.
Petitions continue to come in. Atlanta has
sent two, bringing the wishes of men repre
senting influence and wealth, in every de
partment, that the government will give the
$350,0(i0 asked for by tho survey. Augusta,
Macon, Columbus, Albany and Americus like
wise have conic to the aid of their sister city.
Indeed has Senator Brown kept a continuous
fire on this line, introducing almost every
day last week, a petition in behalf of Savan
nah. Ten millions is the great maximum of
the river and harbor bill. Usually a hundred
millions are asked by the thirty thousand
miles of rivers, and the many harbors praying
for relief. And so one dollar is granted for
ten asked. Savannah will not fall
in such a scale I am sure, for there is not an
other harbor with so just a claim or so small
a list of benefits received from the govern
ment. The engineers are all heartily in favor
of Savannah, and have made their reports as
strong ns possible to show the urgent need of
work there. The chances look favorable. The
u-ual opposition to the river and harbor bill
is already developing. Sunset Cox brings
himself into notoriety by shooting straws at
it every year, and as Sam Randall fought it in
the ciiair lie can hardly be expected to be idle
in opposing it on the floor.
SPEER ON THE CHINISP..
Mr. Speer made a creditable speech on the
Chinese bill in the house debate of Saturday.
He doesn’t want any of the Mongolian mixture
in his. He portrayed the personal uncleanli-
ness and the, microscopic cheapness of the
coolie laborer, and appealed forthe protection
of the working men of America against such
unfair competition. Speer speaks well. You
can always tell nearer how he will speak than
how he will vote. He preserves his indepen
dence of party lines, sticking bravely to his
resolution announced in a republican news
paper interview at the beginning of this ses
sion. He happens in this instance to be with
most of the democrats, but I suppose he will
balance up the account before the session is
over.
THE DAHLONEGA ASSAY OFFICE.
He is doing excellent service to his district
in pushing the bill to establish an assay otlice
at Dahlonega. It will, probably pass. The
wonderful rieliness of Georgia in gold will be
prominently brought before the country
what Mr. Speer may say on the
question, and the office when established
will be of great practical value to the miners
and the people generally in that section.
GEORGIA'S NEW COURT.
Colonel Hammond’s bill to establish a new
United States district court for Georgia has
been before the senate judiciary committee.
Mr. Edmunds is a hard man in the commit
tee. He illustrates there a joke told on him
among his senatorial colleagues. Once he
and Thurman and sombody else were sipping
their wine and talking freely of men and
matters, when reference was made to Ed-
munds's prominence as a presidential candi
date. After some compliments to his fitness
for the high honor, Edmunds said frankly
that he did not want the presidency. It was
a station that brought responsibility and care,
and he really preferred his place in the senate.
Thurman interrupted this strain by saying
to Edmunds: “You havent considered all
aspects of this question. 1 know you would
not refuse the presidency if you thought for
a moment of the delicious pleasure it would
afford you to veto bills.” And the scrupur
Ions lawyer came near putting his veto on the
Georgia bill in the committee. He came
around on a substitute, materially the same
as the Hammond bill. It will leave the pres
ent district court just as it is except that
Judge Erkine is to be transferred to the
southern district. Down there a marshal,dis
trict attorney and clerk will be appointed.
Both courts are to have jurisdiction to the
extent now allowed to the one court. Judge
McCay is recommended highly as a proper
man to fill the bench. Judge Atkins is
supposed to have a hankering for judicial
honors, and Colonel Printup, of Rome, has
been spoken of.
No further difficulty in the passage of the
bill is anticipated. It was admirably en
gineered in the house by Colonel Hammond
and .Senator Brown carried it over rough
round in the senate witli bis usual skill.
8ENATOR HILL
is better than he lias been since the severe
operation on his neck. He has never lost his
buoyancy, but now he feels more assured of a
recovery. The wound causes some pain yet
but is healing. 'Jhe senator sits up all day
and talks free to the many friends who call
and tender their good wishes. His appetite is
improving. All things considered the outlook
is very cheering.
PERSONAL POINTS.
Mr. Julius L. Brown lias returned from
New York, and after two days’ stay in Wash
ington, started to Atlanta this morning. He
brings home some choice pictures pur
chased here and in New York
to add to his already lovely
collection. He has the plans for his new
home to be built on the corner nearly oppo
site his present place, and it will be in all
respects an ornament to Atlanta.
Mrs. \V. O. Tuggle has been very sick for
some weeks and last night she grew worse.
She is now lying critically ill.
Mrs. Gordon and her charming youn_
daughters will return to Atlanta in a few
days.
\V. B. Sage is here on his way to Atlanta,
but will come gradually.
Superintendent Thompson hopes to have
the Atlanta fast mail on again before long.
Congressman Reagan, of Texas, lost a very
interesting two-year old child Saturday. She
was buried yesterday' in the congressional
cemetery. * F. H. R
member of company F, 146th New York vol-l
unteers. He was employed in the Turkish
bath rooms at Bagg's hotel, and for the past
eighteen months has labored under tiie delu
sion that he was an ambassador from heaven'
sent by Guiteau and others to shoot 1)/
Gray. After the shooting he went home"
told* his friends in the house that
he had shot Dr. Gray, and would gi ve
himself up. He went to jail and unloaded
a perfect arsenal, told what ho done, and as
the jailer was a brother veteran, he consented
to go to bed. Subsequently he was brought
to tne station house, atfd said ho had a duty
to perform and did it. lie was at the depot
at 5.50 p.m., ready to shoot Dr. Gray when
he came from the ears. He was never a pa
tient of the asylum, hut taught I)r. Gray's
children how to swim. Ho is undoubteiily
insane.
Utica, March 20.—Uemshaw, who shot I>r.
Gray, superintendent of the State lunatic
asylum, was taken before _ Recorder Bulger
this morning and committed to await the
action of the" grand jury, which meets on
Monday. Ilemsnaw is thought to be insane
by those who talked with him last night and
this morning. Dr. Gray is in bed, but com
fortable. A slight rise in temperature is re
ported. It is not thought that the pistol
wound will much disfigure his face. There
will be a small scar under tho left eye where
the ball entered.
• A Corner on Elders.
"Gath's” Letter to Cincinnati Euqulrcr.
The Methodist conferences thrnugnout the coun
try are showing a good deal of agitation and resent
ment at the corner in presiding elderships which is
said to be maintained by certain of llio brethren iu
collusion with some of the bishops. 'I his has been
a source of complaint in the Meihodist church for
the past thirty years. Formerly most of the Moth-
dist preachers were suc(j hom* ly men that they al
lowed themselves lo be distributed by a little ring
of ecclesiastics without complaint: but these poor
brethren put off with burl churches observe that
some brother iu the ring gets to be presiding elder
from four to six years, and then gets tho biggest
church in the conference, ami then slides back to be
presiding elder, a post of comparative ease, where
you can preach the same sermon 7 or 8 times
it year, whereas the poor chap tilling otto pulpit nas
to get up two or three new sermons every week, or
crib them at some peril out of his library. It is a
singular fact that there is more plagiarism in
the pulpit than in any other branch of litera
ture. I reco lect, in the city of Washington, not
many years ago, to have heard a sermon stolen from
old Bishop Bossuct, who lived in France about five
hundred years ago; but the minister said it was so
old he thought it would not count as plagiarism,
and mtlier plumed himself on his cleverness of
research to have found so old a sermon and made
it suit these times. The tendency in the Methodist
church has been for many years to drop tho itiner
ant plan; but as that was the delight of Father
Wesley, nobody seems bold enough to lead oil' in it
Tho Work Question In the South.
Chicago Fanneis’ Review.
Taking the whole population together, white and
black, male and female, old and young, rich and
po >r, a less proportion of the population work,
whether in the fields or out of them, than in any
civilized country under tne sun. The whites don’t
work because of the still binding force of former
traditions, and because of a trying climate, which
makes field labor exhausting. The blacks don’t
work because they cannot be disciplined as former
ly, and because, ! living been differentiated
for centuries to a tropical cli
mate, they can not be made to
understand the necessity for continual labor when
it is opposite to their inclinations. White women
don't work because white men don’t, and because
of the existence of a public sentiment which holds
them above the necessity of labor even more than
ihe men, especially if they belong to the educated
classes. But even if while men and women did no
work, and did not require to be “waited on” by
the blacks to an extent northern people have little
conception of, the ease would not be so laid. But
there are so many whites who not only do no work,
but are at the satire- time “waited on" by the
blacks, that not only is the ptoporlion of "non
workers increased, but the colored field bands are
demoralized by the numbers of tlieir brethren who
lead easy menial lives and eujoy the leisure of
towns.
Corn-ltnlaer* anil Cottaa-Kalser*.
Louisville Courier-Journal.
Cotton, cotton, cotton. That has been a self-im
posed stumbling-block of the southern planters.
They grow too much cotton. Forests and under
brush yield to the ax and the fiery tlanics to grow—
cotton. Tne planter dreams of cottou; bends all
his energies, spends all his money, borrows monev
and gets into debt to grow—cotton. This is ail
wrong. It has been a disastrous process forthe
south, whose soil Is capable of producing the finest
food crops. The concentration of all energy and
money on cotton planting has produced enormous
crops of tli«t staple, hut who that carefully exam
ines the subject can deny that the southern people
would be more prosperous, would be free from
harassing debts, if they wised four million of bales
of cotton Instead of six millions, devoting the kin
etic energy necessary to raise tho extra two mil**
lions of bales to tho producti n of food crops—food,
indeed, absolutely necessary for human cmnfort,
and which is largely purchased in tno middle nnd
western states at a great expense.
A Welcome OhuHce.
Raleigh News.
Tntt Atlanta Constitution says that there are
probably 5,000 women in that city who earn their
living, in part or wholly, by their own labor,
against perhapR only 500 ten years ugo. Even ad
mitting that ’Jhe Constitution draws it rather
strong, yet the change must be very notable. And
we are glad of it.
A Streaming t)u*e oFI-anacy,
Springfield Republican.
A silver half dollar of tho confederate states has
just been sold for$870—a screaming Instance of the
fictitious value given to some, things by well-au
thenticated rarity. A silver shekel coined a centu
ry before Christ brought only $15.
Old lSut Ti vt.
Natchcs Democrat
All sou hem planters ran produce food crops
which will keep ihem from dependence upon the
supply merchant for a grudgingly Riven yearly sub
sistence. When they learn to do this tho south will
be prosperous.
A. MADMAN’S BULLET.
A Superintendent of n Lunatic Anjlnm Shot by a
Crazy Man.
Albany Argus.
Utica, March 1G.—At 6:50 p.m. to-day a
tall stranger stepped into the doorway of the
private toffice of Dr. John P. Gray, of the
state lunatic asylum, and fired at him
Chaplain Gibson, Dr. Blumerand John Gray,
the doctor's son, were present. The ball hit
Dr. Gray in the left cheek, at the edge of liis
whiskers, and passed through the flesh and
out of the opposite side of the left cheek
landing in a window casing. The wound
is only in the flesh and none
of the bones appear to be
broken. Dr. Gray was able to walk to his
room and bathe liis face, and no shock fol
lowed. The assassin was about 35, 5 feet 11
inches tall, dark whiskers, eyes and clothes
had top boots and pants in his boots, and
peculiar woolen cap with a long peak. He is
not known, but is supposed to be a lunatic.
A man answering tin's description was seen
prowling tiie grounds this afternoon. The
police are after the suspicious character. Dr.
Gray’s son and Dr. Blunter followed the man.
As he left the steps he turned and shot at
hem and ran away. John Mahar, a teamster,
followed him a block, and near Faas avenue
he turned and fired at Mahar.
LATER—TUB ASSASSIN GIVES HIMSELF UP.
Dr. Gray's assassin gave himself up at the
jail to-night. He told the jailer's wife that
he had shot a man. His name is Henry Rem-
shaw, and lie has been insane eighteen
months. With him were two navy revolvers,
one dirk with cleavers and a bottle of chloro
form, with about thirty bundles of cartridges.
He is fully identified and will be cared for.
FURTHER PARTirULAES.
Henry Remshaw, who shot Dr. Gray, is a
shoemaker by trade, and was formerly a
TO A CHILD.
AUSTIN DOBSON.
How shall T sing you, child, for whom
So many ljers are strung;
Or how the only tone assume
That fits a maid so young T
What rocks there are on either hand!
Suppose—’ll* on the cards—
You should grow up with quite a grand
Platonic hate for bards!
How shall I then be shamed, undone.
For ah! with what a scorn
Your eyes must greet that luckless one
who hymned you, newly boru:
w ho o’er your "helpless cradle” bent
IIi3 idle verse to turn.
And twanged his tiresome compliment
Above your unconcern I
h-ay—let my words be so discreet.
That keeping chance iu view.
" hatever after-fate you meet,
A part may still bo true.
Lot others wish you mere good looks
A our sex is always fair:
Or to be writ in Fortune's books.
She's rich who has to spare.
I wish you but a heart that’s kind,
A head that’s sound and clear;
(Yet let the heart be not too blind,
The head not too severe!)
A joy of life, a frank delight,
A moderate desire:
And it you fail to find a knight.
At feast—a trusty squire.
THE “OLE MAN’S” LAMENT.
In the Little Church-Yard of tho Old Homestead
By Sam W. Small. “Old Si.”
Jacksonville Times.
rd £" n I ,e . r de ole svaheyahd
_,?! tie little brick church in de t <*'**«,
W har de ole fnkes res’ in dere las’ long sleep
Neaf de wile rose hushes an’ de v.ues;
Hit s <1e only place let fer de ole man now
, Ber J v ’, hc P de snn down
r ? v 0 ® de fren’s dat s all gone ter peace
In de buzzum ob de cole, cole groun’ l
II.
r 1 ? 6 ter ? e ez 1 wanders ’mong do trees
tJ*? } hears de voices ob de lov’d ones agin—
dere to de a’r round about
i ru '1 ,dere gyarmints in de win’!
, J hnow s dat my days is drawin’ ter an en’
n.(Vi> de B 55 e *5 Bt de Ribber is lookin’ my way,
1 , f day fer ter go—I’se lonesome down heah
A-watchin an waitin’ de cornin' o' Day!
m.
Some night when de owl is hootin’ in de tree—
nTm watch dog howlin' in do yahd outside
U t- -i weepin’ in de cabin on de hill-top dar
tz de ole man’s soul washes out on de tide:
few teade grabe in de little chnrch-yahd
«til show dat de las’ ob de liomest id race
te r jine wid de sleepers in de mould
Tell dey all wakes tergedder iu de Lan' ob Grace 1