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THE WEEKLY CONSTITUTION, TUESDAY. APRIL 11.1882,
THE CONSTITUTION.
Entered »t the Atlanta Poet-office as second-das
mail matter. November U. 1878.
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ATLANTA, GA„ APRIL 11, 1882.
It is tlic ambition of Mr. Flower to lea
the democratic race for the governorship of
New York, and he has many friends who en
courage him in his ambition. Besides having
defeated for congress a scion of the Astors, he
is himself a shekel-holder of some preten
sions.
Tennessee has as much trouble talking
about her state debt as she has in paying it. A
gleam of hope, however, exists that the con'
troversy may be brought to a close by the ae
ceptance of a proposition from the bondhold-
ers to settle on a basis of GO per cent of the
amount due.
Ir the present rate of increase of immigra
tion is maintained, this country will soon be
one of the most populous in the world, and
therefore one of the greatest, for men, not
land, make a state. It is now thought that
the whole population in 1890, will be about
«8,0(30,000. If so, no wholly civilized state
will outrank us in numbers.
kindled by General Sherman—the last time
by the city officials.
The prompt burning of the house in which
there had been a case of small-pox is an evi
dence of the thoroughness with which At
lanta tackles anything she takes hold of, even
as shy a subject as small-pox. It gives ns
pleasure to say that the fire was technically
a success. The limits to which it should go
were definitely marked out before the torch
was applied, and though it sat in a
perfect nest of inflammable buildings,
the flames never went beyond the lines as
signed them. Indeed, not one pound of wood
or one scrap of brick besides those tainted,
was destroyed—the only thing not down in
the bills, that fell under the fury of the
flames, being the eyebrows of Commissioner
Fox, who rushed in too recklessly to rescue a
threatened panel of fence. We have proba
bly heard the last of the fearful small-pox—
and will soon see a better building arise in the
place of the one that was destroyed.
ADVANCES BY GEORGIA.
The bill to repay the state of Georgia $27,-
175 was reached on the senate calendar last
week. The claim is for money advanced by
the state for the defense of her frontiers
against tlic Indians from 1795 to 1818. When
the bill came back from the committee on
claims it was amended so as to read a: follows:
That the secrctaryof the treasury Is hereby au
thorized and directed to audit the claims of the
state of Georgia for moneys advanced by said state
to pay troops ordered into service for the defense of
her frontiei s against the Indians, from 1795 to 1818
inclusive, and not heretofore repaid to said state,
and to pay to said state such sum, not exceeding
S23.567.-t2. as he shall find due and unpaid, out of
any moneys in the treasury not otherwise appro
priated: Provided. That if there be (any sums of
money due or owing to the United States by the
state of Georgia, whatever umount, if any, may be
found due under the provisions of this act to the
state of Georgia shall be credited to that state, and
the balance only shall be paid by the state of Geor
gia or the United States, as shall appear by the
striding of a balance to be due from the one party
or the other.
Mr. Hoar, of the committee on claims, stat
ed that the bill was unanimously reported;
that other states had been reimbursed for
similar expenditures, and that although very
aged the claim was undoubtedly a clear and
plain one. Governor Brown then explained
the delay in presenting the claim. We give
his explanation in full:
Our state house at Millcdgeville was not a very
largeone. There were some basement rooms in the
state house that were used as a place of deposit of
such early documents as it was thought would not
be of much use in future. They had been unfortu
nately neglected there by (former governors of the
state. When I enmo into the executive office, in
looking through these basement rooms I found a
large file of old documents of tbat character, some
of which were nearly rotten, many of tdem were
lost, a few of them probably of much importance.
In having the whole thing overhauled, however,
among ourer papers in the cellar were found these
vouchers that the state had never before been able
to find, showing that we bad paid out this money
in aid of the United States government in the In
dian wars. They were sent on, and it was found
that everything corresponded except a small item,
I believe of three or four thousand dollars, for
which vouchers were not found, and that was de
ducted. We do hot claim it, because we cannot
prove it. That is the history of the loss.
This explanation disposed of the bill so far
Mr. Blount in opposition to foolish appro
priations is a familiar story to liis friends, for
it lias long since been established that when
money was to be paid out, tlic Goorgia con
gressman would have to know what it was
paid out for. Mr. Blount is os anxious as any
one that George Washington should have
monument, but lie is not willing that the
crumbs thrown under the table should be too
large.
Visitiko statesman Bill Chandler, of New
Hampshire, lias at last succeeded in getting
wliat lie wanted, and is now Secretary Clian
dler. Mr. Hunt, of the navy, is gently let .. . .
onto! office by an AppSatoient t* Buwln, but 1 99 «* . “• 1111 *“
poor old Kirkwood is kicked out without cere- I ,as&e< ^ " >thout a dissenting voice.
mony tv make room for Teller. The last
man of the Garfield cabinet is now out; for
pretty Bob Lincoln don’t count, and as
soon as Mr. Arthur dares brave northern
opinion of tlie name of Lincoln
out lie will go too. The new appointments
have nothing to recommend themselves with,
either personally or politically, and Chandler’s
appointment, when Garfield openly refused
to appoint him, is a direct slap at the half
breed republicans.
AUGUSTA’S COTTON MILLS.
A more remarkable showing has seldom
been made than is presented in the letter of
Mr. Grady this morning concerning the Au
gusta mills. He states, with much truth,
that there is in the south a gcneral’distrust of
manufacturing enterprises. The inclination
of our people has never taken tbat direction,
but they have rather been a commercial and
planting people. The early manufacturing
enterprises in the south were started with
slim capital usually and without experience.
It has fairly taken a decade and a half to over
come these difficulties and to demonstrate the
profit anil security of such investments. Au
gusta is to be congratulated on the thorough
ness with which she makes the demonstration
and the brilliant success that lias attended
her enterprises. The figures that are present
ed in our letter this morning should he read
in every southern community and accepted
as a lesson to every southern investor.
A GOOD REFORM
If it is true, as asserted, that congress is to
put on a salary United States marshals, dis
trict attorneys, and other officers connected
with the enforcement of revenue collection
it will be a great bpon io tax payers who slip-
port these officials, especially in the south,
where these men have everything prac
tically their own way. As Com
missioner Raum says, criminal
prosecutions uuder internal revenue laws for
trivial and technical offenses, which arc a
source of great revenue to marshals and their
like, arc too often begun. Innocent men are
arrested and prosecuted for alleged violation
of the law. Nothing is said of the legalized
brutality and cruelty, such as the murder of
poor old man Hicks; but if the marshals and
the other men who make a fat living by
hounding down such men as Hicks were to be
•put on salaries it would be a great saving in
life as well as taxation.
PITCHING THE SOUTHERN CROPS.
We print elsewhere letters from the com
missioners of agriculture of the southern
states that are full of cheer and hope.
The most important fact to the southern
people is that the fanners of the south, taught
by disaster what they would not leam from
argument, have at last determined to raise
their own supplies. From every state comes
the news that the grain crops will be larger
than they have been in years. This means
independence and prosperity. It can mean
nothing else. It is a matter of much smaller
importance that the farmers are spending
much less for fertilizers than ever before.
This simply means that they are more eco
nomical for a season, because they have less
to spend. Fall crops this year will result in
extravagance in fertilizers next year. But
the corn-raising policy once adopted, will ap
prove itself so thoroughly to the judgment of
all farmers who adopt it, tbat it will not be
abandoned, no matter how full and fat the
times may wax.
A UNIQUE FIRE.
Thursday for tliej second time was a house
fired in open daylight and audience in the
city of Atlanta. The first time the fire was
THE COUNTRY ROADS.
In a few months at the longest the people
of Georg a will be engaged in selecting can
didates for the legislature; and this is a good
time to consider what should be done to im
prove the public roads of tire state with a
view of selecting of men who will give ex
pression in the legislature to public option
on tlie subject. It is simply unnecessary to
say that the roads of Georgia are as poor as
they can well be, and that the present system
of road-making and road-repairing has no
tendency to better ones. The Selma Times
in discussing this subject says that wagons
which last a generation in some states, last
only three years in Alabama, and tbat muddy
roads cause the hardy mule to succumb in two
or three years. We cannot do better than to
quote from the Times’s sensible and timely
article: “The money that Alabama lias lost
“by the ruin and repair of vehicles and by
“the death of stock would make as fine roads
“as could be desired. And yet with a wantof
“reason akin to madness, a stupidity that is
“marvelous we persist in letting the present
“road-working system remain, on our statute
“books. Many men will get red in the face
“and denounce as monarchical oppression the
“very suggestion of a direct tax of a few dol
“lars to make passable roods by contract,
“when at the same time they are paying out
“perhaps hundreds of dollars yearly for new
“mules and new wagons. Such stupidity is
“absurd.”
The Georgia system is no better than the
Alabama system, and a reform from bottom
to top is needed. Instead of wasting money
in senseless and temporary repairs some
means should he devised to build roads that
will stand the test of muddy seasons. The
Charlotte Home says in relation to this sub
ject: “Every mile of road finished adds to the
“valuation of property and is an inducement to
“immigrants, and the increased popu
lation would contribute a per
•‘capita amount. The result of this can
“readily be seen, tor not many years would
“elapse ere the whole highways would be put
“in thorough repair and the state rid of that
“drawback to her advancement and prosper
ity.”
There is in fact no investment that a com
munity can make which will return better
dividends than good roads; and if the people
will, in selecting candidates for the legislature
consider the importance / of legislation
on this subject, there is no reason why Geor
gia, with a sandy soil and generally even sur
face, should not have public roads that would
compare favorably with those of any other
state—roads that would attract immigration,
promote trade and reduce every farmer’s ex
pense account
ALL QUIET IN ATHENS.
Grave rumors of riot in Athens were again heard
on the streets of Atlanta. Numbers and names
were freely quoted of the persons engaged. The
dispatch of the mayor, which follows, shows how
false the rumor was, since he says that absolute
quiet prevails. Undoubtedly the rumor arose from
the fact that Saturday is the students' holiday, and
they were all likely to he on the streets in crowds.
Athens, April 8.—To the Editor of the Con
slitution: There is not the slightest fonn-
dation for any of the rumors now abroad of trouble
here. Absolute quiet and order prevails, and there
is no disposition whatever upon the part of any one
save to uphold the law. The officials, both of the
city and of the county, from the first intimation of
the tragedy up to the present moment, have dis
charged their duty as fearlessly and as straight-for
ward as lies within human power. Permit me
to say for the citizens of Athens that
we recognize fully the awlul calamity that has fal
len upon us in the killing of Walter Roundtree.
Permit me to say further that they are as determined
as men can he that 3 ust and swift punishment shall
follow in due course of law. The subsequent at
tempt at riotous behavior upon the part of some had
negroes was met by prompt arrests and punishment
The people of the state at large may rely upon it
that we appreciate onr responsibility.
J. H. Rucker, Mayor.
THE SOUTHERN CROPS.
How Tfccy Ar* Plt«hfd—Decreased Cotton Acreage—
Increased Grata Crop* and LtH Fertilizer*.
We present below letters from the agricultural
commissioners of the southern states, addressed to
Tue Constitution, on the subject of the year’s
crops.
It will be noted that there is a gratifying increase
of grain crop acreage, a slightly smaller decrease in
cotton acreage, and a very much larger decrease in
the sale of fertilizers.
TENNESSEE.
Thirty Per Cent Increase in Wheat—Decreased Cotton
Acreage—Increased Sale of Fertilizers.
Nashville, March 29,18SA—In answer to your re
quest of date I will say that from estimotes fur
nished this bureau at seeding time last fall the in
creased acreage sown to wheat in Tennessee may be
safely put at 50 per cent
As yet I have no data upon which to base an es
timate for corn or cotton. From the best informa
tion I have I think there will be a slight increase
of area for com and for tobacco, and a slight de
crease for cotton. The sale of fertilizers will be
increased. Respectfully,
A. W. Hawkins,
Commissioner.
NORTH CAROLINA.
One-Third Inereane of Grain Crop*—The Cottoi
; Acreage the Sane—Fertilizer* Ditto.
Department op Agriculture, Raleigh, March
29,1882.—Editors Constitution: No tabulated tig
ures oi the increase of grain and provision crops
have been cast up in this office, but our corres
pondence extending into every county in the state
keeps us generally well informed.
Basing an opinion upon the evidence I think
that I am clearly within the limits of safe calcula
tion In estimating the Increased acreage in wheat,
rye and cats at 33)4 per cent over the cop of 1881
that of rice—principally highland rice, at 15 per
cent.
Corn land is in preparation and reports agree that
more corn will be planted this year than formerly.
The acreage for cotton will not he increased or
diminished. The sales of fertilizers will not vary
materially from last year’s sales, and will reach
90,000 tons.
Grain crops of all kinds are lu good condition.
Very sincerely yours,
M. McGehee, Commissioner.
SOUTH CAROLINA.
S5 per Cent more Wheat. 60 per Cent more Oat*—No
Change In Cotton—Leu* Fertilizer*.
Editors Constitution—Gentlemen: In reply to
yours of Maren 26th, will say that the return from
our correspondents, covering a portion of the infor
mation you seek, are just now coming in, and
have delayed answering your inquiry uutil a suffi
cient number had been received to enable me to'
give something approaching a correct opinion.
We have received partial reports from twenty-
two of the thirty three counties in the state. They
indicate an increased acreage in wheat of 25 per
cent, and in oats of 50 per cent. This would make
the actual acreage in wheat 19S.268, and oats 352,912.
This would yield, if an average crop is realized, 1,-
149,(HI bushels of wheat, aiid 3,705,891 bushels of
oats,
V't Lave no estimates yet as to corn, but from ob
servation, I think the acreage will probably not ex
ceed 1831, and may possibly be less. The increased
acreage in grain would doubtless have decreased
the acreage in cotton, but for the operations of the
stock law. As this law will bring into cultivation a
large area of old fields, hedge tows, and land that
would not have been cultivated, if it had been
necessary to fence it, I think it probable that the
acreage in cotton will fully equal that of lost year.
The correspondents of this department estimate
that 20 per cent less fertilizers will he used this
season than last The records of our office show,
however, that privilege tax tags have been pur
chased for 88,598 tons against 191,884 tons for the
same period last year showing a difference of only
16,287 tons,but I am informed that large quantities of
fortilizers are stored at the various depots through
out the state, upon which the tax has been paid,
that has not been sold. This would seem to verify
the estimates of our correspondents.
The returns to this department indicate that
phosphates are being more largely used than ammo-
mated fertilizers. As the phosphates are used
chiefly for composting with lot manure or cotton
seed, it shows that the fanners arc practicing more
economy in this particular. If the correspondents
are correct as to the percentage of decrease in the
use of fertilizers, it will be a saving of over $500,000
in the one item of expense. The grain crop in all
the counties is reported in fine condition. I am,
very truly yours, A. P. Butler,
Commissioner Agriculture.
GEORGIA.
An Increase In Grain—Decrease in Gotten Acreage and
In Fertilizer*.
Commissioner Henderson is now having printed
his series of new crop questions, hut has already
sufficient data on which to say that the oat crop is
the largest known in years, being nearly double
that of last year. The acreage in wliea t will he from
20 to 30 per cent larger than last year—and the com
acreage larger but not by so much. The acreage in
cotton he estimates at a falling off of 20 per cent.
The sales of fertilizers will be diminished by from
SO to 50 per cent.
in com and oats. There is no agricultural bureau
in this state and interrogatories, such as The Consti
tution, arc sent to this office.
Respectfully and truly,
Jacob Froljch,
MISSISSIPPI.
Tea Per Cent Mare Cora and Oat*—Lee* Cetton la
Overflawed District*.
Jackson. Miss., March 29th,1882.—Editors Consti
tution : I can only give you an unofficial statement
of the preparation for crops in Mississippi. About
ten per cent more com will be planted than last
year, and the rhmters are at least four weeks later
with their work. Oat crop, reeded last fall, about
ten percent greater than last year; very little work
done in preparation for the cotton crop on account
of continued rains. In the hill country, five-sixths
of the suite, about the same crop will be planted as
last year. The overflowed district, between the
Yazoo river and the Mississippi and tributaries,
embracing 260,000 acres, usually planted in cotton,
I suppose will fall short this year about twenty per
cent This section in 1879 made 212,785 bales of cot
ton. The water in the overflowed section is fast
subsiding, and the planters are following the water
with their plows. Later in the season will give you
a more extended report of our state. Yours respect
fully, E. G. Wall.
TEXAS.
No Commlulaiier and No Return*.
A letter received from Texas states that there is
no commissioner of agriculture, and no statistics on
the crops.
We were unable to get replies from either Florida
or Louisiana.
PERSONAL. »
Anna Dickinson’s scheme is to surpass
Charlotte Cushman.
Gciteau has finished the correction of the
proof of his new hook, and it will at once be bound
and put on the market.
The word “laughter” is always printed in
the speech of a congressman so the reade.r may
know when to lauga.—Picayune.
Bernhardt’s new-made Greek husband
goes with her to Spain, but. the dispatch says, “he
will not perform with her until they return to Lon
don in May."
It looks as if President Arthur had finally
run through Boscoe Conkling’s friends in New
York and has now begun to appoint Conkling’s
relatives to office.
District Attorney Corkiiill says he will
endeavor to have the Guiteau case set for the first
Monday in May, the bill ot exceptions having been
completed and signed.
The Hon. Benjamin Harris Brewster, attor-
tomey general, is president of the American com
mittee interested in the project of holding a grand
exhibition iu Rome in 1885-86.
J—y G—ld. Your poem on “The Shorn
Lamb" received. Please call at this office and bring
your fin box. Not for publication, but to create
confidence.—Boston Commercial Bulletin,
Sterling P. Rounds, the recently appointed
public printer, is a Vermonter by birth, and is 55
years old. So many persons have volunteered to go
upon Mr. Rounds’ bond tbat he proposes to qualify
in $500,000 instead of $100,000, as is required by
law.
Tom Hughes, it is said, will soon be ap
pointed governor ol the Isle of Man. Tne govern
orship has a good house and a salary of $7,500 at
tached to it, the duties are very light, and the cost
of living about 30 percent less than in England.
Senator Teller has, by telegraph, tendered
his resignation to Governor Pitkin, of Colorado.
His successor will be appointed in a day or two.
Prominent Colorado citizens now here think that
Mr. Thomas Bowman, of the southern portion of
the state, will succeed to the senatorial vacancy.
IN GENERAL. •
COTTON
MANUFACTURING IN THE SOUTH
ERN STATES.
A Comprehensive Review of the Work of the Past and
Present—Augusta's Mann aeturos—The Mills
Devoted to Cotton and Their Work—New
Mills — Personal Point*, Etc.
Special Correspondence of The Constitution.
Augusta, March 30th, 1SS2 —The most important
event of the year in Georgia in my opinion—sur
passing even the Markham house conferences—was
the starting of the machine! y of the million dol
lar Sibley mill In Augusta.
The next most important event of the year was
the laying of the corner-stoue of the milliou dollar
King mill at Augusta.
How cheap do politicians seem by the side of tlie
men who stand behind these and similar enter
prises, and how paltry is the clamor of the hus
tings when compared to the music ot the spindles.
How inefficient is the agitation of place-hunters or
the fine rage of factions, and how empty their re
results, when set against tlie quiet and decorous
work of businessmen who through these mills lift
thousands of men aud women from beggary and
idleness, and light the lire on the hearthstones of
hundreds of homes.
Reflections ti this sort started me toward An
gustaamonth ago—other engagements postponed
my visit, and I am here to-day ou the wing.
I have thought it important that a comprehensive
review of cotton manufacturing in the south should
he written. IVe are constantly naeetiug paragraphs
iu the papers that give tlie earnings of certain mills
for a certain period. These look brilliant, but they
are held to be exceptional. Against the showing of
the Langley mill, for example, or the Eagle & Phe-
nix, I have been called upon frequently for an av
erage of all the mills in Georgia. This I propose to
give, plainly, concisely aud as completely as possi
ble in this letter and those that follow.
I am perfectly sure that a Georgia mill has an ad
vantage of one cent a pound iu the manufacture of
cotton over a Massachusetts mill—everything con
sidered. But it is not important to prove this. It
matters very little to us what a New England mill
does. If we can satisfy Georgians that a Georgia
mill will pay sure and ^reasonable dividends,
enough capital can be raised at home to build a
cotton mill in every county of the state. 1 have
uncovered enough “corn-raising” farmers with fat
old fashioned purses to build a dozen mills them
selves, if they can only be satisfied that manufac'
turing pays. As strange as it may appear there is a
general impression throughout Georgia that manu
facturing does not pay—and a subscription list
started in three-fourths of our towns for a factory
to-day, would be filled, if filled at all, by meu who
“subscribed what they were willing to lose iu order
to help the town.” It is with Georgians, therefore,
that the advocates of new mills should address
themselves first.
ALABAMA.
InncnH Oat Yield—Larger Grain Crops—Smaller
Cotton Acreage—Lcs* Fertilizer*.
Gentlemen: Alabama, I regret to say, has no sta
tistical information of the kind you ask for in
yours of the 26th, nor has the state such an officer
as commissioner of agriculture.
Without giving it as an official statement you can
say that: “Enquiries in various portious of Ala
bama lead to the conclusion that more corn, oats
and wheat will be the result of the crop of 1SS2, if
disasters are escaped, than ever before known in
the history of the state. The drought of 1881 cut
lamentably short the com crop of that year, which
promised at one time to be very large. To make up
for the loss an immense amount of acreage was de
voted to fall and spring oats, the sowing being uni
versal with the farmers. At this date the outlook
is good for an immense yield. The acreage in wheat
is much larger than usual, though this is not much
of a crop in the state. The reports are that fullv as
much land will be devoted to com as last year, and
this, with good seasons, ought to produce enough
for two year’s supply.
The cotton acreage will be slightly less than last
year, owing to increased attention to provision
crops.
Reports indicate a falling off of about 25 per
cent in the sale of fertilizers. I am yours, respect
fully, W. W. Screws.
ARKANSAS.
Twcatr-FIve Per Gent. More Corn and Bread Crops—
Twenty-Fire Fer Cent. Lcm Cotton—No Fertilizer*.
Office of Secretary of State, Arkansas, Little
Rock, March 31, 1882.—Editors Constitution: Your
letterof inquiry just to hand. I answer on state
ments contained in the local press of the state as
well as from information from citizen from vari
ous pane of the state, in regard to the comparative
acreage in com and bread stuffs and in cotton,with
the acreage of the past year. The eastern portion
of the state along the Mississippi river where a
large proportion ol the codon produced by the state
is grown is for the most part under water, and for
that section no estimate can be made. As to the re
mainder of the state I think that the increase in
com and breadstuff's will reach one-fourth, or 25 per
cent, and a corresponding decrease of one-fourth in
the acreage in cotton. No fertilizers! are purchased
iu this state. The causes of the increase in theac:e
age of corn, etc., and decrease in cotton are two-fold
the stem lesson of the present want and poverty
and the scarcity of cotton seed. Many fanners in
the interior of the state have been compelled, from
the want of cotton seed, to plant their entire farms
In Philadelphia goats are sold for lambs.
The duty on Jumbo amounts to four
thousand dollars.
A horse was recently decapitated in Lon
don by the snapping of a wire across Oxford street
In Xcw York the other day a man told Gath
that there was not one of the large hotels but clear
ed $69,000 a year for two years past. The Ffth ave
nue clears the most. Next to that comes the Astor
house. Third comes the Windsor; fourth, proba
bly, the Brunswick; fifth, I should think the Hoff
man house.
Statistics reported in the Union Medicale
give the number of deaths in the French army
from small-pox at 1,037. In the German army
during the same period there was not a single
death from that cause. Vaccination and rcvacciua-
tion upon entering another army corps are compul
sory in Germany.
An old and gray beard rat of immense size
was caught in the Continental hotel, Oswego, and
placed in an old dry goods box in the street Three
cats were thrown in the box with him, and he
whipped them in one, two. three order. Three
terriers were then introduced, and also retired
badly whipped. The rat was finally dispatched by
a water spaniel.
T. O. Mcl., Detroit, Michigan: “What kind
of climate do you have in Texas at thisseason of the
year?” “We usually have a mild semi-tropical cli
mate at this season of the year, but in the last con
signment received there were some chunks of cli
mate that did not belong to us packed with the rest
of the goods.”—Texas Sifting.
The British American Pacific railway is
likely to reach the Pacific before its rival, the
American Northern Pacific. It is said 1,300 miles of
the former road will be completed west of Thunder
Bay by the 1st of September. With four Pacfic rail
ways across the continent there are excellent pros
pects for a healthy competition for eastern and
western traffic.
EASTER SONG.
When moi| with its radiance gilds the fair earth,
And the lark warbles forth in a soul-stirring lay;
When the reaper with scythe sets out iu full mirth,
To gather the sheafs, at the break of the day;
When matins areriugiug; and maidens are bring
ing,
Carlands of flowers to the “Church on the Lea;
Then tell me; Oh! tell me of whom thou art think
ing;
I pray you say! Art thou thinking of me?
At noon, when the sun’s rays brightly are beaming,
And nature seems joyous with gladsome delight;
When the hinds seek repose in the forests all teem
ing.
With moss-covered verdure, so cheering and
bright;
When pure streams are flowing and cool breezes
blowing,
> O’er meadow and woodland, with rapturous glee;
Then tell me; Oh! tell me of whom thou art think-
| ing;
; I pray you to say: Art thou thinking of me?
At eve, when the twilight's effulgence is streaming
On landscape and ocean, with supernal glow;
When the whip-poor-will stags, and the sunlight is
gleaming.
Through clouds rent asunder by Luna’s bright
flow;
When vespers are pealing and maidens are sealing.
The vows which were takf n when blithesome and
free;
Then tell me! Oh! tell me of whom thou ar think
ing;
I pray you to say: Art thou thinking of me?
When the dew-drops of night, so gently are stealing
O’er green hills and valleys, with nourishing
night;
And the light of the glow-worm is mildly revealing
The secrets of true love, so blissful and sweet;
When the south wind is sighing and night-birds
are flying
In the depths of the woods, for away from the
sea:
Then tell me; Oh! tell me of whom thou art think
ing:
I pray you to say: Art thou thinking of me?
William W. Habersham.
Atlanta, Georgia April8in, 1882.
Augusta is the most important manufacturing
city in the sou them states. She bos 133,300 spindles
actually turning. These are set in 10 mills, which
have a capacity for 20,000 additional spindles to bo
put in as fast as possible. Besides these, the King
mill, with a capacity of 30,000 spindles Is now being
built, so that there arc nearly 175,000 spin
dles in sight for the Fountain city. Of
these mills, three—the Summerville mill, 4,000 spin
dles, owned by G. P. Curry; the Glade mill, 5,000
spindles, owned by J. M. Clark’s Sons, and the Ster
ling mill, 3,000 spindles, J. B. Connelly, proprietor
—are private enterprises. The other eight mills
represent a capital of $4,100,000. The same amount
of money is not invested iu the same number of en
terprises in any business in any city of the country
that pays, with the same security and lack of risk,
better returns on the capital. As will fee shown
from the following resume of facts gathered in a
hurried tour through the leading factories, made
under the courtesy of Mr. W. H., Barrett and Mr.
Marion Vcrdery.
—The Augusta factory is perhaps the best known,
for it is the oldest of the mills located Jn the city.
This mill has a capital of $600,000 and runs 26,200
spindles and 790 looms. From 1865 to 1882,17 years,
it has paid out in cash dividends $1,467,000. or
about 2)4 times its capital. To be exact, it lias paid
in 17 years 2.4114 per cent, or an average of 14)4 per
cent per annnm. Besides this, it now has a present
surplus of between $110,005 and $350$00 or over 50
per cent of its entire capital. For the past year or
two it has reduced its dividends, with
the view of increasing the surplus and putting in
additional machinery. Its stock is worth from ICO
to 170.
—The Langley mill has a capital of $100,000, with
10.S00 spindles and $29 looms. It has paid in the
past 3)4 years 47)4 per cent dividends or an average
of about 15 per cent per annum. To go further
back, its net earnings in 8 years were $457,218.00 or
112 per cent, or 13 per cent per annum. Last year
it paid semi-annual dividends of 10 per cent or 20
per cent for the year. Its present surplus is $200,000
or 50 per cent of its capital stock. Its stock is now
worth between 160 and 170.
—The GraniteviLe mill, with $600,000, has 31,600
spindles and 900 looms. This company (H. H.
Hickman, president, and S. W. Howland, superin
tendent,) pays 10 per cent dividend. Its policy has
been to put its surplus above a fair dividend—and
10 per cent is certainly fair—into new spindles.
Out of its surplus earnings—that is its earnings
above the dividends it paid—the managers built,
without a dollar’s expense to the stockholders, the
Vaucluse mills with 10,000 spindles for making
fine fabrics, at a cost of $540,000. The profits of
the new mill were put to the credit of the original
capital and a new surplus fund started witli which
in time a third mill may he built. Its present sur
plus is $125,649, or 25 per cent on its capital. Its
stock of course commands a heavy premium.
—The Enterprise is a new mill—and one of the
finest in the country, it was started in 1877 with a"
capital of $300,000 with Major George T. Jackson,
president. It had hardly got to running when it
was determined to double its capacity. Additional
capital of $200,000 was needed. Mr. M. J. Verdery,
after such of this as was wanted in Augusta was
taken, went to New York and placed the balance in
good hands. The extension is not yet completed*
but the company paid » per cent dividend last
pear and already has a surplus of $15,000. There is
uo doubt that it will follow in the steps of the older
mills—and besides paying good dividends accumu
late alarge surplus with which to put in new ma
chinery! or new mills.
—The Riverside mill uses'the “waste” of the others
and makes a large profit, though what ills I had no
means of knowing. The Globe and Sterling mills are
equally prosperous, it is said, writhout the precise
figures being available. The Summerville mill are
immensely profitable. Mr. IV. H. Inman told me
that his knowledge of the business of this mill is
what determined him upon building a large mill
in Georgia. He put its profits on Investment of
about $143,000 at $50,000 per annum. None of these
mills are for sale and the men owning them have
become rich. That is enough to know.
—The Sibley mill has been at work for about a
month. It is named for Mr. W. C. Sibley, who is
its president, and also president of the Langley
mills, and bears the coat of arms of his family.
It is said to be the finest mill in America,
barring none. It is certainly a noble structure. It
represents a capital of $1,000,000. Twenty mills
like it, equipped as it is, would cost as muen as all
thehousesandlotsof Atlanta. Its builder is Mr.
J. Davis, who built the Atlanta
factory and the Enterprise mill in Augusta.
With unlimited means at his disposal and a confi
dent directory at his back, the old veteran put the
slow gathered experience of a lifetime into this
work. The result is a marvel of architectural
beauty aud fitness—imposing, massive and superb.
As I stood on the broad piazza of Mr. Davis’s Lome,
looking out upon this enormous structure, I said:
“It is better to have done this work
than to have been president of these United
States.” And Mr. Davis, rubbing his hands
softly together, evidently thought so too. There is
an impression that the Sibley represents more
money in the building than was necessary—but it
is hard for any Georgian in looking at the noble
pile to gainsay one dollar that has been spent. It
simply stands the (lower of a century’s progress—os
perfect iu all parts as money and skill can make it
the model mill ot a continent. I predict that its
record will comport with its building and that
its stockholders will grow rich from its earn
ings. It can accommodate about 40,000 spin
dles. and its capital is $1,000,000. The Augusta fac
tory, with 28.2CO spindles, on n capital of $750,000
i including bonds), has earned (surplus added to
dividends) 800 percent in the past seventeen years.
The Langley, with 10,800 spindles, on $400,000, has
made quite ns good a record To vary tlie sugges
tion, the Sibley has hardly spent $50,000 in decora
tion. The interest on this amount will not seriously
affect its dividends. As it is it is a monument to
the new Georgia, second to none I have seen. By
a strange coincidence tlic tower that stands at
its gateway, stands as the monument to old
Georgia—being the sole remaining shaft of the
powder mill of the confederacy. It was well that
it was left standing. Erect, unblemished, com
manding, it has been the silent witness of a revolu
tion as typical and thorough as the world ever saw.
About Us base, where once clustered a stem aud
bcleagured people working in rage aud despair,
busv men and women and children now ran to
and' fro in sunshine and happiness Where once the
blasts of death were forged and the ghastly work oi
war was done.peace now holds her gentle sway and
the music of the spindles fills all the air. Tnrough
it all and above it all the tower stands,
at once the sentinel of a new and a brighter and.
better era, and the raouumeut of an honorable and
** er< The King mill with a capitalofj.,000,050 will be
built with less expense than the Staley. Every ap
pointment, however, will be ample aud first-class,
its managers simply propose to putnoiliing into
architectural display and everything into ma
chinery. 1 he slender alert figure of the Hon.
Charles Estes, who mainly organized the scheme
and raised the capital, may be seen any day-
in the superb race-way or along the foumlaton.
walls watching the progress of the work. It is said
that the mill will be linished within a year, but
that is very uncertain. There are many contingen
cies in mill building. A wheel-pit, for instance, for
the Augusta factory that >lr. Jackson es.iimued to
cost $250,000, cost about $350,000, and swallowed
2,000,000 brick before it was finished. A very ad
vantageous contract for tlie brick of the King mill
has becu made, and fine results will be achieved
when the spindles are up aud tlie earning record of
the mill is made.
WHERE TICE MONEY COMES FROM.
Now where does ihe money come from
to build these mills. In the past
three years nearly $3,u00,000 of new capi
tal has been im-csted in new cotton mills iti this
citv. Who puts it up? On this point, 1 will quote
Major George T. Jackson, whose udmirable sagacity
and conservative influence has been a leading mo
tive in building up this interest, said he:
"The question, of capital is uo longer to be con
sidered in Augusta. He can get all the capital
we want. It comes aim. st unbidden, in raising,
a million dollars each for our last two
mills, the right to subscribe commanded a pre
mium before the books were closed. A premium
was offered for Sibley stock before the wheels
started, and for King mill stock before foe founda
tions were laid. Under proper management a mil
lion dollars could be raised for a new mill without
trouble.”
it was formerly not so easy?”
No. And the change is a very instructive one.
It come from slow aud iucxorablc demonstration.
By making a record year after year—the mills earn
ing iu bright or dull times from twelve to twenty-
five per edit—wo couviuced our people that cotton
manufacturing, upon which they had looked with
distrust, offered really the most profitable invest
ment they could make with safety. .-x> that gradu
ally every man or woman who had a surplus of a
thousand dollars or so, began to look
for a factory stock to put it in.
There was no argiimcin mat could do this. It re
quired demonstration. When one factory made &
good showing it was said to be an exceptional mill.
When sevenu mills made a good showiug one year
it was said to be an exceptional year. But when
all tlie mills, year after year, ptuu big dividends
and piled up heavy surpluses, then the people be
gan to understand that factory stock was a desirable
investment. Since then we have had no trouble."
Of the local subscribcis to laclory stocks there no
very large holders. The largest subscription made
by an Augusta man was $iu0,o00 with which Mr.
J. I*. King headed tlic list of ilieKicg mill. There
are many persons who have from $5,tKH) to $2U,(K)0
ou the books of several mills, The money of estates,
is invested largely and it Is fair to say that of tie
$4,000,000 iu Augusta mills, over $3,000,000 is owned,
in Augusta. The northern subscribers are mainly
New Yorkers who have southern interests, such as
George 1. Seney, C. c. Bala win, V. K. Stevenson
and Woodward, Baldwin & Co.
—Mr William E Jackson, the veteran president of
the Augusta factory, said: “Fairly managed, cotton
factories iu Augusta will pay better ana surer divi
dends man any business l know of. \\ e have a
clear aud indisputable ud\milage of one cent per
pound over the New England mills. No matter
how close they may work they cannot wipe out
this difference—consequently as long us New Eng
land can turn a wheel, we can prosper aud pay
dividends. This has been shown so clearly that we
can command all the capital we want."
In his talk with me, Mr. Jueksou indirectly fa
vored a change in the policy of the Augusta mills
that was discussed more thoroughly by Mr Uocin,.
the .superintendent of the old Augusta. Said 'the
latter gcntlemau;
“The mistake tnadehy tho managers of our mills
is in the disposition of Uu-ir earnings. We have
found it easy enough to moke a large surplus, but
have not been so successful iu holding it. V\ e pay
too much out in dividends and put too liale iu new
machinery'-”
“For example:”
“A by, we have gone on paying out 10 to 20 per
cent in aividendsand not liicieasiug our capacity
by a spindle. This is all wrong. It 20,000 spindles
will earn 15 per cent on $500,000, 40,000 spindles
will earn 30 per cent, it is manifestly the interest
then of every company to have us many spindles as
possible in proportion to its capital, if a null
earned 15 per cent it ought to pay b per cent in Uiv-
dendsaud put the balance into spindles. The re
sult of such a course is like compounding interest.
Why we boast oi making 20 per cent with our mills
when the Tremout aud butfolk mills of New Eng
laud made las* year 54 per cent. The reason of
this Ls plain. That mill runs 2uo,000 spindles on a
capital of $1,250,000, while Augusta, with $4,000,000-
capital will have only 160,000 spindles W itn about
one-fourth the capital the Tremout has about one
fourth more spindles. Hence its 64 per cent
profits.”
“You favor then putting the surplus earnings
above a reasonable dividend luto new spindles?”
“Of course. If we pay only 8 per cent dividend—
or tveu 10—and put every other dollar we earned
into spindles, we should soou double our spindles
without increasing our capital, and then we would
produce astonishing results.”
“Is the policy you suggest becoming popular?”
“I don t know; there, is such a demand from the
stockholders for heavy dividends that few boards
will resist it. I think, though, they will see after
awhile that it is better to be content with a reason
able annual income and improve the properly with
the sui plus earnings. Then the era or real success
in manufacturing will have begun."
I found a strong feeling iu the direction suggest
ed by Mr. Jackson and Mr. Cogiu. The Enteiprisc
has already doubled its capacity by increased capi
tal under one management, and t e disposition is
to go further. Tne Granite: ilie has built anew
mill out of its earnings, aud now has more spin
dles to capital than any other mill. The Langley
has put aside a surplus notwithstanding its heavy
semi-annual dividends oi 10 per cent. T he Augus
ta, ufter paying uu average oi about 18 per cent for
several years, cut down lor the last three years to 8
and 10 per ceut. The Sibley has the capacity
for more spindles and will dou ptless use its surplus
to provide them. So that without any new capital
it will not be unreasonable to look for a very heavy
increase in the number of spindles in Augusta.
In the meantime, it is suggestive that all the dis
cussion 1 heard in Augusta was not as to whether
the factories could make heavy dividends, but as
to what policy should govern the disposal of their
surplus, above dividends. It went without saving
that any factory would earn from 12 to 20 per cent,
and what to do with the excess over 10 per cent was
ihe only problem, to solve.
“What is this I hear?” said the Hon. Robert
Toombs, as he stood with closed eyes on a bridge in
Augusta, with the waste*water of the mills plung
ing beneath it. “What is tit is I near? It is the
tread of a million laborers! They rest not in your
City—they eat not and they sleep not. They turn
your wheels and start your spindles, and are gone!'
I presume this is what he said. It is what he
should have said and he is apt to have come some
where near it. No man could have said less, in the
presence of this mighty flood, that coursing through
the arteries of the city and kindling here and there
into throbs and pulse-beats fills all the system with
life and strength. I am myself tempted to sav
more of it, but reserve for future letters many facts,
figures and suggestions that I collected during my
urried tour among the mills. h. w. G.
A REMEMBRANCE—TO M.
BY WILL OLIVER.
Only a crowded ball-room.
Thronged with faces fair:
Only a girl with eyes of blue
And glorious gotdeu hair.
Only a boy in the doorway.
Gazing with listless eye;
Only a sudden brightening.
As she swept queenly by.
Only a few words spoken.
Perhaps all were in jest;
Only a rosebud token
Asked from its place of rest-
Only a steamer waiting
The turning of the tide;
Only that fair girl going
Back to her mother’s side.
Only the old, olu story'—
Of passion, parting and pain;
Only the memory of happier days
That may never come back again:.