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POWDER
Absolutely Pure.
This powder never varies. A marvel of
purity, strength and wholesomeness. More
economical than the ordinary kinds, and
cannot bo sold in competition with tlio
multitude of low tests, short weight, alum
or phosphate powders. Sold only in nans.
Royal Bakixg Powder Co., 106 Wall St.
New York. 10 ly.
Aaricnltural uEparimEnt,
Georgia’s Farmers.
A Graphic Review of Their Condition
A PROMINENT AGRICULTURIST GIVES
HIS VIEWS AS TO THE NEEDS OK THE
PEOPLE, ANDTHKJIURDKNS WHICH
THEY. NOW HAVE TO HEAR—THE
CREDIT SYSTEM -TDK NECESSI
TY OK A CHANGE. ETC.
From the Atlanta Constitution.
Greensboro, Ha,, March 2D, 1887,
—Hon. J. T. Henderson, ('oinniission-
er of Agriculture, Atlanta, Ga.— Dear
Sir: Yours of the 23rd instant receiv
ed and harmfully considered. 1 fully
agree with you as to the absolute ne
cessity of devising some means to re
lieve bur embarrassed agricultural in
terest. No doubt an interstate con
vention, composed of the States sug
gested in your letter, would, in venti
lating the causes of this embarrass
ment. do something that might re
sult in a remedy for this great evil.
These States, so nearly allied in agri
cultural products, and in like manner
lepressed and oppressed, would feel
the question of relief to be of vital
luportance to the farmers, as upon
this depend every oilier interest tend
ing to the permanent welfare of the
country. It cannot be denied that
the substantial prosperity and happi
ness of a country depends mainly
upon the productions of the soil, un
der a liberal encouragement and pro
tection of tin* gn*ut mass of produ
cers. It, is now a sad fact that uie
large majority of our agriculturists
are working hard and living harder,
and enjoy but little of the fruits of
their labor. We hear it said on every
hand that farming, which has ever
been the great source of trade and
wealth and prosperity, does not pay;
and a wide-spread discontent and de
pression prevails among the farming
classes. Many are giving up in de
spair, and seeking a living in various
other avocations, from a ludicrous
scramble after public office, to the
grooming of tome little scrub colt.
They flock, to our cities and towns,
and many finally make vagrants and
tramps and criminals. 'This applies to
whites and negroes. Our records are
filled with liens and mortgages upon
dilapidated farms and poverty strick
en stock. Our children are growing
up in illiteracy and ignorance. Our
sturdy yeomanry, as we call them, go
shivering in the cold blunts of winter,
i nd writhing under the scorching
jays of summer and foroed to live iu
tumble down bouses and on a diet
that would give bogs the dyspepsia.
Debt, debt, inexorable debt, contract
ed for bis scanty supplies, haunts him
by duy and by night like a horrid
nightmare, and a general sickening
business mildew is settling down
upon all his aims and hopes. A
gjoomy picture, but too true, us can
be proved by any man who will trav
el through the country and note its
general condition.
’Talk about a renewed south spring
ing up. phumix like, from the ashes
of the war, with renewed energies,
renewed prosperit\ and increased mag
ic like wealth. It is all gush so far as
it relates to our general agricultural
interest. Outside of a few moneyed
centers and speculative schemes 'no
such condition can be found. True,
you ilnd now and tuen an exception,
but 1 refer to the general condition of
our farmers. What lias brought
about this fearful stagnation in this
all-importunt branch of our country's
prosperity? Is there a remedy for the
ivil? j answer there is a remedy, but
we mav have to take the “bull by the
horns.” The main oiuses which have
produced this unhappy state of af
fairs may be stated in a few words.
Many will say the credit system is to
blame for it all. While tfiis may be
true in one sense, yet in a real business
sense it is not. When our soldiers, who
composed almost the whole of our
adult white male population, returned
from the war without money, without
currency, without supplies, without
almost anything to live on ihe credit
system became an unavoidable neces
sity—with most of them it was “live
outs and one in."
“Out at the heels, and out at the toes,
Out or victuals, and out of clothes,
In debt, and out of doors."
Hence they were forced to adopt
the credit system; and, while this was i
the starting point, the initiating step,
yet credit was not and is not the true *
cause of the embarrassed condition of j
our agricultural interest. You ask, j
how can this seeming inqonsitency
be reconciled? 1 answer, a man can I
buy an article on credit and pay for I
by his honest labor if the price'
agreed on be just and reasonable; but
if 1 take advantage of his necessity,
us Jacob did of Esau, and extort more
tliun the thing is worth, his paying
fOr it when due will simply depend
upon some fortuitous circumstances
which may or may not happen; and
should the lucky event fall he will
have the debt to pay out of something
else than his honest labor. You see
the point. It was not the necessary
credit but the exorbitant rate of in
terest and the extortionate “time
prices” for supplies which have caus
ed, and is yet continuing, this unfor
tunate state of affairs as to a large
majority of our farming classes.
1 believe your investigations have
shown that the farmers of Georgia
pay for supplies oil time sixty-six per
cent on the cash prices, and a high
rate of interest on money has prevail
ed all over the State as to individuals
for the past twenty years; in many
instances as much as live per cent
per month has been charged, and ten
to twenty percent has been about the
ruling rate. No sane man would dare
claim that the agricultural interest of
any country could by any possibility
prosper under such a terrible incubus
as this. The great astonishment is
that our farmers have borne up under
such a burden as this as well as they
have, but yet thousands have fallen
tinder the weight, and are now home
less upon the face of the earth. To
say nothing of our pauper houses,
and prisoners, and tramps, and va
grants and loafers, no wonder our lu
natic asylums, now overflowing with
pitable inmates, cannot be enlarged
fast enough to meet the public re
quirements. Our genial climate and
generous soil is all that has saved the
producing classes from universal
bankruptcy anil starvation. For if
you will but tickle the bosom of our
cheerful soil with a three inch scooter,
it will blossom as the rose, and smile
upon you in rich profusion like the
garden of Eden.
Ohl but says one, the evil has result
ed from a want of diversified crops,
we have an over production of cotton.
In the history of the world when was
it ever before said that too much had
been produced of any article so gen
erally needed as cotton, and of such
universal consumption and varied uses.
1 have learned that, it is a very easy
matter for another to give me advice;
but “Samson was very strong and
Soloman was very wise, but neither
could pay money when they did not
have it.” ’ A man can do a thing easi-
ly enough if lie only has tlie means to
do it with. It is but little trouble to
tell him where to get. things at a rea
sonable price, but without money, he
would be like the Irishman, in want
of milk, wlio was told where he could
get it at ten cents per gallon, but said
be “Ali! an fat.h I’m afther foinding
the ten cents.” Give him the money
of his own, or at a reasonable per
cent and he can and would do a great
many things he cannot do. A farmer
buys his supplies on time expecting to
pay for them from the sale of bis
crops; In* plants ten acres iu corn
which makes him 200 bushels, which
is more than the average yield; the
same teu acres would make live hales
of cotton. For the corn he would rea
lize about *120. but the cotton would
bring him *200, a difference of sSO in
favor of cotton. Now, the corn would
not pay liis supply account, while the
cotton would just pay him out, but
leave him nothing over. This differ
ence in the amounts received for his
erops about shows the difference
between the cusli and “time” prices
which our farmers are forced to
pay for supplies, so that, from year to
year, the “time prices” the result of
his necessities leaves to him no alter
native but the all cotton system. No
farmer will question the fact that di
versified crops would better promote
the prosperity and happiness of the
whole people, but, situated as we find
him, how can he possibly adopt it?
.This is not an overdrawn picture, but is
a lamentable fact. Soli him his sup
plies on time at a just and reasonable
peroent profit, and out of his no more
than five bales of cotton he would
have left In his own pocket a balance
of at least $50 or $00, which aggre
gated would be indeed a large amount
left in the hands of a great mass of
producers, and would soon enable him
to quit the credit system, and would
then be applied to the improvement
of the lands, and to making their
homes comfortable.
In Georgia alone this aggregate
would amount annually to $8,000,000 or
$10,000,000, which would be left as the
net profits of their labor in the hands
of the tillers of thesoil, and thousands
of these would be made up of small
farmers. If one-half of the above
amount could be realized by our farm
ers os a profit, and which, iu all
justice and good conscience and fair
dealing, they should realize, it would
in reality infuse a new life and im
pulse Into our agricultural interest
thut would he ‘us the dew of Herman
that descended upon the mountains
of Zion;” and as if by the magic wand
of some good angel, it would shower
blessings upon oar country, and bring
joy and gladness to thousands of
homes now shrouded iu gloom. We
might tiien truthfully say we live in u
revived south with an increasing pros
perity and wealth and happiness un-
paralled in all its former history. A
more genial clime or generous soil
than ours has never been found. We
possess everything in the variety of
products, and minerals, ami natural
resources to make us one of the
greatest people and countries that
ever blest the world; but the fearful
drawbacks herein mentioned are eat
ing like a canker into the very vitals
of our country’s progressive life. It is
a fact too well known to admit of de
bate, that n low rate of interest lias
always resulted in the prosperity of
the agriculturist, and tended to pro -
mote the success of every other legiti-
imate business looking to the build
ing up of a country, and the estab
lishment of public confidence; while
a higher rate is antagonistic to all
these elements of progress and tends
to general poverty and bankruptcy.
Hut now as to the remedy. This is
the difficult question to struggle with.
1 feel jjroud of my section and people.
It is well known that southern char
acter is rioted for its high sense of
honor. It may very properly be a
question in some insteuces as to the
correctness of that sense of honor. If
he promises to do a thing his idea is
to do it if it kills him; if he agrees to
pay 100 per cent his purpose Is to pay
it although it may bring ruin to him
self and family. In one sense, and an
important sense, this is an incorrect
view as to an honorable compliance
with a contract, because it is the en
couragement of the wrongdoer, and
the oppressor not only of yourself but
of your neighbor, undjthe underminer
of your country’s real good. A rob
ber meets you on the highway and de
mands your money; you have none
with you and you say turn me loose
and as soon as 1 get home I will send
you all. Now, if you complied with
this promise would not every man
say you acted the fool? Would you
be any less honorable m not sending
it? Where would be any condemna
tion under any law human or di
vine? Neither would an enlightened
public opinion censure any man for
refusing to pay an unlawful, ruinous
interest for money. The law makes
robbery u crime. The law says exorb
itant usury is wrong and shall not be
collected. So in both cases we are
sustained by the same wise, impartial,
honest judgment of our legislators,
which ii but a true expression of a just
public opinion. The truth is, a man
owes something to his family and
to himself, and no law of man or God
could honestly condemn him for refus
ing to comply with an unjust contract,
resulting from taking advantage of
his necessities, ami which would final
ly end iu want to himself and fojuily.
Our law makes the limit of interst 8
percent and more than this would bo
unjust and oppressive. Is it a just
and wise law? If so, where is the
wrong, or condemnation, or dishonor
in refusing to pay a greater than 8
per 'cent interest? That the law is
just is too evident, at least the advan
tage is in favor of the lender. Mon
eyed men are ready and glad to
! invest in “bonds” and “stocks” pay
ing 4 per cent or 5 per cent interest,
j Then this is all that money is really
I worth. The law permits nearly twice
] this tier cent as to individuals, and
I wisely restrains the lender from go-
1 ing beyond Its limits. A penalty
should be affixed for any attempt to
1 violate this law. And it would be a
good tiling for the whole country if a
law could be passed that would reach
all evasions, whether under the name
of commissions, agencies or any other
pretext; and then cultivate the public
mind to recognize tlie fact that all the
dishonor attaches to the man who ex
torts it and not to him who refuses to
pay it.
i It seems our legislators have been
unable to devise a law that can reach
theseextortioners under “timeprices;”
and it is indeed a difficult question;
but it does seem that its necessity and
importance would, under wise' anti
united counsel, result in suggesting
some law that could remedy the evil.
As the law now stands, under the
violation of the contract idea, the op
pressed debtor is powerless to resist
the merciless demands of the heartless
creditor; and legal robbery is the most
wicked and ruinous of all robberies,
because it endangers the best interest 1
of tlie whole community, and leaves
the weak and dependent under sub-j
jection to the grinding extortions of
the rich and avaricious. The trtiei
object of all good government is to
protect the weak against the strong, [
punish crime, and prevent wrongdo
ing. Now if the evils herein named
do not class among the greatest!
wrongs which can be perpetrated up
on a people, then I would like to
know what is wrong. It is causing
today more embarrassment, and pov
erty, and suffering, than any other
1 evil. If your business men would
look at tills question in its proper
bearings they would see that in tlie
end it is financial suicide, and destruc
tion to every material interest of tlie
country, ana is doing more than
everything else in destroying public
and individual confidence. Tlie
quickest and surest way to restore
this confidence arul bring about a
prosperous state of affairs would be
to change this system of dealing with
the agriculturalists of the country,
I believe the agricultural interest
would be very greatly promoted by
applying to it wholly and directly all
the fees and revenues derived from
the inspection of fertilizers, as this
was the original intention of those
who recommended the establishment
of tlie “agricultural department.”—
This would doubtless be a question
in the proposed convention. 1 have
said nothing as to tlie efficiency of our
currency to meet the demands of trade
as another cause of embarrassment,
although I am one of the many who
believe we need more money, a larger
circulation. This is properly a nation
al question, but it might also bo con-
, sidered, as no doubt many important
questions looking to the advancement
ami prosperity of our agricultural in
terests would be brought to the no
tice of such a convention.
I will with pleasure cooperate with
any movement having in view tlie
proposed object. If bis excellency,
Governor Gordon, could inaugurate
some means that would accomplish
the relief so earnestly desired, and
which now ‘cries to heaven’ against
these evils, lie would add to the many
i honors that cluster around his name
one brighter than all he has hereto
fore achieved, and bring down upon
himself the heartfelt gratalations of
the thousands of now oppressed tillers
of the soil.
What u. letter I have written; but
your letter encouraged the giving you
Hjy views, and i believed you sincere,
and you have them for ali they may
be worth, although they may differ
with the opinions of others—I certain
ly did not intend to string it out in this
manner when 1 commenced, and hope
you will pardon the affliction.
J. B. P.
Posterity vs. Ancestry.
It is no longer questioned, it, is ad
mitted, that tin* blood of man is im
proving. The children of to-day are
better formed, have better muscle
and richer minds than our ancestors.
The cause of this fact is due more to
the general use of l)r. Harter's Iron
Tonic than any other source.
Ii. Barrett,
Invites his friends to call and examine his new and comnlef *
of Groceries. He has endeavored to open a I c stock
First-Class Grocery Store,
in Milledgeville, and intends, so long as he continues in bush* *
keep up a full and complete stock of FRESH GOODS and t ’ to
just as LOW as tlie same goods can bo sold in this or anv
market. He does not propose to cut under Lis Brother Merck *
but it will be a “cold day in August” when he is run out hUM*’
Brother who proposes to undersell him. His advantages tte
better than any other man, BUT JUST AS GOOD, and he enn n !!
afford to meet their prices. He n
Makes a Small Profit on all he Sells
and “Don’t you forget it.” Ho does not sell at COST lie buys f r
the best houses, pays cash, gets the benefit of cash discount 2
therefore can and will ’ UDl1
Sell Goods as Low as Any One!
To mention the articles would be useless, suffice it to say, hob.
nearly all the goods usually kept iu a First-Class Grocery Store in
cities of any size. He will endeavor, by STRICT HONESTY «nl
polite attention to merit a full share of the public patronage ’ 2
it successful m business, will promise to do all lie can to build 1
the interest of the city that has so kindly received him. P
s. IBjAIELIR.IETT.
Xo - d£ ' m, ”"£ g-
® 183611 SWIFT'S SPECIFIC.1111886 19
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A BEMEDY SOT TOE A DAY, BUT TOE
UST HALT A GEHTUEY -*«
BELIEVING SDTFEEISff HUMANITY I
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AN INTERESTING TREATISE ON BLOOD AND SKIN DISEASES SENT
FREE TO ALL APPLICANTS. IT SHOULD BE READ BY EVERYBODY.
ADDRESS THE SWIFT SPECIFIC CO., ATLANTA, GA.
June 22, 188(5. OOcwlv.
Near MilledgEville, Georgia;
Manufactures STEAM-PRESSED DOUBLED-GLAZED VITRIFIED
DRAIN, SEWER and WATER PIPES,
SMOKE AND HOT-AIR FLUE PIPE,
Flower Pots, Greenhouse Tile, and Other Ware, Etc.
wmm mwm a specialty.
STEVENS BROTHERS & CO.
PROPRIETORS.
March 1, 1887.
34 tf
T. C. HKNDRIX.
O. 1>. WILLINGHAM.
GEO. R. LOMBARD & GO.,
Foundry, Machine and Boiler Works,
Above Passenger Depot, near Water Tower,
AUGUSTA, GA.,
Sell the Best and Cheapest Engines and Boilers.
Complete Gin and Mill Outfits,
—A SPECIALTY.—
Mill and Engineer’s Supplies, Cotton, Grain, Sawmill and
Labor-saving Machinery, Shafting, Pulleys, Bolting, Saws,
Emery Wheels, Governors, Pumps, Inspiiators, Injectors, etc.
Largo stock to select from. Prices low, good* guaranteed.
Write for circulars. Castings of every kind, and new work (light and heavy) prompt
ly done. Best outfit South.
t ^OIN WORK, New and Repairs, promptly and well done,
at AUGUSTA GIN WORKS.
GEO. It. LOMBARD.
April 1011), 1337. 41 ly.
HENDRIX & WILLINGHAM.
MANUFACTURERS AND DEALERS IN
Sash, Doors, Blinds, Mouldings
Ih/E-AJSTTIiniiS,
Newels, Rough and Dressed Lumber, Shingles
AND ALL KINDS OF BUILDING MATERIAL.
Lime, Plaster, Cement, Hair, Laths, Paints,
Oils, Glass and Builder’s Hardware,
DIXIE WORKS, Toot of Cherry St.
March 8, 1887.
P/XACOW, GA.
35 3tu,
I am here to Supply a Long Felt Want.
MILLEDGEVILLE
Marble and Granite Works!
M y yard is open and everybody is cordially invited to come
and see my work and how it is done'. I am prepared to furn
ish any size job from a small Headstone to tlio finest elaborately
carved Tablet or Monument. I have as good a selection of origi
nal Designs and Photographs as can bo found anywhere in tlie
United States.
Satisfaction Guaranteed
in every instance. Prices, Designs and Estimates sent by mail upon
application. Correspondence solicited.
E. P. LUGAND,
Lock Box, No. 1, Milledgeville, 6a.
Jan. 11,1887. 27 tf
Brickl Brick! Brick!
1,000,000 FIRST-CLASS BRICK for SALE.
P ARTIES Intending to build on thollnoof the Georgia or Central Railroads,wouil
do well to consult us before making a contract.
First-Glass Paving Brick a Specialty.
We are mat lng Brick with the latest Improved Machinery, on the celebrated Can
ker yard.
BRICK DELIVERED TO ANY PART OF TOWN*
Kir We take pleasure In referring to Maj.J. FUSS, Architect and Building Sup«di
tendent.
foster & mcmillan,
Milledgeville Ga.,June 10th, 1880.
Contractors and Builder-
A. B. FARQUHAR A CO,
MACON, 6A„
—Southern Branch of—
Pennsylvania Agricultural Works
—Manufacturers of—
Steam Engines, Boilers,
Saic Mills, Grist Mills,
AND MISCELLANEOUS MACHINERY.
JOBBERS OF
Beli|tafipe,BrasslfiiSS
HANCOCK INSPIRATORS, ETC.
March 8th, 1887,