Newspaper Page Text
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22.
Is Trade That Cosnes to Augusta From Points Along
the Augusta-Aiken Interurban Line Worth Keeping ?
It Amounts to Probably Quarter of a Million a Year
Proposed Increase of Trolley Fares 100 Per Cent Will, if
Granted, Turn Away From Augusta at Least Half of This
Retail Business, Yet People of Aiken County Who Are
Customers of Augusta Have Been Left to Fight Single-
Handed---Believed Now That the Fight is Lost Unless
Something is Done and Done Quickly Here in Augusta to
Save the Situation---Augusta’s Apparent Indifference is
Resented Across the River.
WALTER E. DUNCAN,
Staff Correspondent,
The Augusta Herald.
If an Augusta factory or an Augusta industry which turns loose in
Augusta $200,000 a year should suddenly announce its intention of mov
ing away to some other city, it is only reasonable to suppose that the
people of Augusta would at least concern themselves enough to invite
the manufacturer to reconsider and remain in Augusta.
Trade is not so plentiful right now that Augusta can afford to lose
SIOO,OOO or $200,000 a year that now comes here. At least, it is worth try
ing to keep if it can be kept.
Yet, when week before last the petition of the Rail
way and Electric Corporation, asking that the corporation he allowed to
increase the passenger fares on the Interurban lines 100 per cent, was
heard before the South Carolina Railroad Commission in Columbia, the
only representatives of Augusta present at that hearing, at that critical
time, were the representatives of the Augusta-. Liken Railway and Elec
tric Corporation urging that the petition be granted.
Not a word of protest from an Augusta business of commercial or
ganization was heard.
Thq fighting was left entirely to the people of Aiken and other
places along the line In Aiken County—the very people whose $200,000 a
year in trade Augusta business houses are receiving, and at least a big
part of which Augusta will lose if passenger fares on the interurban line
are increased.
In other words, to be able to trade in Augusta and patronize Augusta
stores, the 15,000 people living along the Augusta-Aiken interurban line
must fight for the privilege, or dig down into their pockets and pay just
twice as much for transportation to the Augusta market as at present—
as far as Augusta is concerned, anyway.
That is the situation. And unless something is done and done quick
ly, passenger fares on the Interurban are going to be increased, perhaps
doubled- for even the legal representatives of the people on the other
side of the Savannah River who were at the hearing frankly admit that
they fear the Railroad Commission will grant the Augusta-Aiken Rail
way and Electric Company’s petition unless additional protests are made
—and when the 15,000 customers of Augusta retail stores living along the
route of the interurban line find that they can come to Augusta only by
paying twice the fares they have been paying for the past twelve years
—fares thr.t they consider excessive—fewer of the 16,000 are coming to
spend their money in Augusta.
A Dangerous Sentiment.
As a matter of fact, there is devel
oping at Aiken and at other places
along the Augusta-Aiken Railway and
'Electric Corporation’s line in Aiken
County a sentiment favoring boycot
ting Augusta retail stores as far as
is possible, unless in appreciation of
the trade which comes to Augusta
from the other side of the river Au
gusta business interests do not join
them even now at the last moment in
the fight they are making. They feel,
these customers of Augusta, that they
have been left with the bag to hold
Augusta has not concerned herself
about the mattei until now. They
have spent their own money sending
counsel to Columbia, and they have
thereby manifested their desire to
continue spending their money in Au
gusta, but so long as Augusta is will
ing to sit supinely by with folded
hands, apparently silently supporting
the Augusta-Aiken Railway & Electric
Corporation in its efforts to double
the fares, they feel quite naturally
that if Augusta can get along with
out their trade they can get along
well without buying in Augusta.
20,000 Customers.
The Augusta-Aiken interurban line
is one of Augusta’s best feeders.
Along the line between Augusta and
Aiken are Belvedere, Clearwater,
Johnstown, Bath, Warrenville, Glov
erville, Langley and Graniteville. Liv
ing in these towns and ajdacent
-thereto and in Aiken they sppnd an
nually in Augusta —$200,000 —is ex
tremely low. It will amount to more
than a quarter of a million dollars.
For twelve years, ever since the inter
urban line began operation, these peo
ple have been acquiring the habit of
trading in Augusta. For 25 cents
they could run into Augusta from the
farthest point on the line. It is a
fact that can be proven that since the
interurban line began operation the
stores in Aiken, a town with a popu
lation of more than 4,000 and with up
wards of 6,000 during the winter sea
son, have not carried the same class
of goods as before. The merchants of
Aiken have lost in trade to the mer
chants of Augusta. So deeply did the
accommodations afforded by the in
terurban line cut into the trade of
one of the leading dry goods stores of
Aiken that the concern moved to
Edgefield. Those that are left in
Aiken would today not only
a doubling of the trolley fares, but
would be well pleased if the cars
would discon.inue operation.
No Help From Augusta.
A few days before the hearing
of the petition of the Augusta-
Aiken railway & Electric Cor
poration, praying that it be per
mitted to increase the passenger
rates, Mayor Herbert E. Gyles of
Aiken, conferred with the secret
tary of the Merchants and Manu
facturers}' Association of Augusta
and asked that the people of Aiken
be joined In protesting and com
batting the petition by that asso
ciation. He received little en
couragement.
“I was informed,” Mr. Gyles said
, * "that the Merchants rnd Manu
facturers' Association had inves
tigated the matter and that it did
not feel that it ought to take any
action in the mater. I was sur
prised. I thought that the Mer
chants and Manufacturers’ Asso
eiation was the Au
gusta’s business interests.” v
Mr. Lombard Brinson, secretary
of the Merchants and Manufac
ture’ Association. *tate<T>e*ter
day that the association had
taken no hand In the matter for
the reason that it did not believe
the petition would be granted by
the South Carolina Railroad Com
mission, „.. .
"We feel that the fight could
better he made by the people along
the line than by us.” he said. I -.
told Jfr. Gyles so when he talked
with me"
Had Heard from Corporation.
Mr Brinson admitted that a repre
sentative of the Augusta-Aiken Rail
way * Eelectric Corporation. Mr
Wood, had appeared before a com
mittee of the Merchants and Manu
facturers’ Association and discussed
' the proposed increase of passenger
rntes on the interurban line, and that
after the showing made then. It was
decided that no action should be
taken.
The people living along the Inter
urban line were not given an oppor
tunity to be represented at that hear
ing.
A Meeting Called.
When informed by The Herald yes
terday that the South Carolina Rail
road Commission, which after the
hearing week before last reserved its
decision, will in all likelihood grant
the petition of the Augusta Railway
& Electric Corporation, unless further
protests are made—it being under
stood that two of the three commis
sionprs regard the proposition favor
ably—and that the people on the other
side of the river are very much ex
ercised over the apparent indifference
of the business interests of Augusta
in the matter, Mr. Brinson conferred
with the chairman of the street rail
way committee, and after going over
the matter with him, dispatched a
telegram to each of the three South
Carolina Railroad Commissioners ask
ing that the decision be held up until
a statement showing the expenses
and revenue of the interurban line
could be secured from the Augusta-
Aiken Railway & Eelectric Corpora
tion and representations made by ths
association.
At 11 o’clock tomorrow morning a
meeting of the street railway commit
tee and the transportation committee
of the Merchants and Manufacturers’
Association will be held, at which
time action will be considered. In
view of the telegrams sent to Colum
bia it is presumed to be the intention
to at that time ask the Augusta-Aiken
Railway & Electric Corporation for a
statement of business done on the in
terurban line covering a normal period
of time.
Wouldn’t Show Books.
At the hearing before the South
Carolina Railroad Commission it is
understood that the claim was made
by representatives of the Augusta-
Aiken Railway & Eelectric Corpora
tion that the interurban line is not
making expenses. An estimate of the
revenue and the expenses was made
by Mr. Pardee, but Mr. Gyles of Aiken,
and others who were present at the
hearing declare that Mr. Pardee- ad
mitted when questioned closely that
his estimate might be far below or
far above the actual figures and that
they were only estimates which
might be cut into half and then not
hit the nail on the head.
At the Columbia hearing the
Augusta-Aiken Railway & Elec
tric Corporation declined to sub
mit its books showing the actual
business done by the interurban
line. .
A Comparison.
It is understood that the contention
of the Augusta-Aiken Railway &
Electric Corporation is based upon the
fact that It is not receiving fares on
the interurban line between Augusta
and Aiken in conformity with the
fares .charged on other interurban
lines, and the Duke System of Inter
urban railways in the Piedmont sec
tion of South Carolina is cited as an
instance.
The people of Aiken County contend
that while the fares on the Duke
System are based on the shorter rail
road mileage between the same points
served by the Interurban line, the ac
commodations on the Duke trolleys
are superior to those of the steam
railroads—faster time is made, there
are through cars with separate
coaches for white and colored passen
gers. smoking compartments, comfort
able seats and toilets, while the ac
commodations on the Augusta-Aiken
line are not to be considered Only
after many representations made to
the corporation did the South Caro
lina Railroad Commission at last suc
ceed in forcing it to partition the cars,
dividing the white and colored pas
senger*. The straw seats are uncom
fortable. An hour and a half Is re
quired to make the trip of a fraction
more than 23 miles between Augusta
and Aiken and should a car leaving
the terminal station in Augusta stop
to take on or let off passengers at
each of the stations between that
point and the passenger depot In
Aiken—as Is oftentimes the case—
would atop exactly 75 times during the
one trip. There are no Rmoking com
partments. no toilets, and Ice water
Is not provided on the cars.
During the intense cold weather of
the past few 'lays the heating ar
rangements of the Augusta-Aiken
Interurban cars havs been so Inferior
that It has been, on some of the cars
at least, not only very uncomfortable
but little better than a punishment
for the passengers to ride.
The Belvedere Contention,
i People living at Belvedere presented
at the- hearing in Columbia, through
their representative, a legal point,
it is claimed that many of these peo
ple purchased lots at Belvedere on
representations made to them by a
land company owned and operated by
tli-3 same company which owned and
operated the trolley line that a flve
cent fare would obtain between Au
gusta and Belvedere. With that un
derstanding and assurance, these peo
ple built homes at Belvedere. Most
of them are in business in Augusta.
Others have children attending the
schools here and in North Augusta.
To double the fare between Belvedere
and Augusta is, they contend, an In
justice and works a hardship upon
them.
It is stated that the land at Belve
dere was bought up by the land com
pany at something ’ like sls an acre.
One 50x100 foot vacant lot was sold at
Belvedere not many months ago for
$1,600.
It is stated by a resident of Belve
dere that the matter will be taken in
to the courts beforq the people there
will submit to an increase in the trol
ley fares, and at Aiken the disposi
tion is to fight to the end.
With the people who want to trade
in Augusta worked up to such a
frame of mind, even though they re
sent Augusta’s apparent indifference
in the matter so far, and with the pro
posed increase in fares almost a cer
tainty, unless further protests are
made. If what those who have been
actively protesting against the Au
gusta-Aiken Railway & Electric Cor
poration’s petition have reason to be
lieve can be relied upon, is it not
time for Augusta to wake up and do
what can be done even at the eleventh
hour to savo to herself that portion of
the trade that comes from the other
side of the river which will not come
if the trolley rates are doubled or in
creased?
BON I HELP IS
HERE IN dEH
Carload Arrived Yesterday
From North. Will Prepare for
Opening of the Hostelry on
December 16th.
The Bon Air Hotel will open on De
cember 16th. A splendid season is ex
pected by Manager Trussell. On yes
terday a carload of help strived from
New York and will bo busily engaged in
cleaning up the building and grounds
from now until the opening day.
The Partridge inn opened some time
ago and has a considerable number ol
guests.
The Hampton Terrace will open soon
after the Christmas holidays.
SPECIAL TAX MUST
BE PAID BY NOV. 30
Internal Revenue Collector
Harry W. Perkins Receiving
the Returns.
Certain persons, firms, companies and
corporations in Augusta, a« welL as in
every other city in the United States,
liable to special tax under the revenue
act of October 22, 1314, more familiarly
known now as the ’’war tax," must
make their returns to Deputy U. S. Col
lector of Internal Revenue Harry W.
Perkinß, by November 30th, one week
from tomorrow, or be subject to fines
and penalties imposed by law.
Mr. Perkins for the past few weeks
has been extraordinarily busy, spending
most of his time on the streeL collect
ing the special tax. Were it not for him
keeping close behind the places subject
to the special tax, the money would
come in very slow.
The special tax-year begins on July
Ist of each year and ends on the 30th
of June following. Special tax liability
is reckoned from the first of the month
during which business is commenced
and ends with the tax year. According
to the official announcement made here,
under the act of October 22, 1914, the
Kpecial taxes imposed for the tax year
ending June 30, 1911, are payable dur
ing the month of November, 1914, and
will be reckoned as from the first day
of that month.
On the reverse side of the special
forma that are filled out by those lia
ble to this special tax Is a list of the
articles taxable and the amount of an
nual tux to each. The amount now duq
however, is but for eight-twelfths, or
two-thirds, of the annual amount stated.
Manufacturers of cigarettes, cigars
and tobacco, of which Augusta has none,
are taxed according to the amount of
their annual sales. Manufacturers of
cigars, whose annual sales exceed 40,-
000,000 cigars, must pay a tax amount
ing to $2,496 a year. There is a cigar
manufactory here, ’ but its tax will be
nothing like this.
CIVIC IMPROVEMENT
LEAGUE ASKS FOR
CONTRIBUTIONS
The Civlo Improvement League of the
colored people of Augusta is an
nouncing Thanksgiving Day as a day of
general contribution for the work of that
organization. It Is well to make this
appeal for the poor and destitute during
these cold hard days.
The league Is ssklng that every mem
ber of the race be ready to make some
contribution w.,en tagged on Thanks
giving Day. Let this taj day he a day
of free will offering for the cause of up
lifting.
Boys' suite and pants, a full line, at
Martin's.
Oo you know of any other
improvement you can make
to your home that will add
eo much to Its intrinsic value
ae having it wired for elec
tricity?
THE AUGUSTA HERALD. AUGUSTA, GA.
Phoenix Printing Company Now in Their
New Quarters at 627 Broad Street
Have One of the Most Complete and Modernly Equipped Print
ing Establishments in the South---Have Added Attractive
Line of Office Furniture, Stationery, Etc.
1 ew people in Augusta realize the
immensity of the present plant of the
Phoenix Printing company, which re
cently moved into new and more com
modious quarters, 627 Broad street.
Formerly its home was at 715 Ellis
street, but on account of the large In
crease of business this removal was
found necessary, hence on the four
teenth of the present month the vast
maeinery, type, office, fixtures, etc.,
wore installed in the present home.
There is a hit of very Interesting
history connected with this modern
and up-to-date printing establishment,
which will be read with no little de
gree of interest by the thousands of
friends of the present proprietors
Rack in the early year of 1577 the
founder of the present large business,
Mr. Thad C. Jowitt, Sr., established a
small ‘'print-shop” on Broadway, or
rather, what was then known ns the
old Opera House alley. The place of
business was of course small, hut to
him a very important one a mere
hole, as It may he termed, l.ater lio
moved to other quarters, this time
further down Broadway, upstairs, and
Increased his force three or four peo
ple. Tn the meantime his business kept
growing. Here he remained for some
time, but the building was eventually
destroyed by fire, which necessitated
another move. This time in the rear
of the old Arlington hotel, on Ellis
street, near Jackson. Not for once
did the pioneer printer become dis
couraged. Pluck and determination
were some of his good qualities and
characteristics. Once more was it pre
destined that tiic home of the little
print shop he destroyed by flames, but
Phoenlx-llke, It soon arose from Its
ashes and with hard labor and energy
was in a short time in an entirely new
‘‘dress,’’ together with the newest and
most modern machinery for the several
departments, employing a competent
force of skilled artists and took the
initiative as "preservers of the art pre
servative.” Having had his usual
foresight tn training his two sons
In all departments, he retired (this
was some eight years agol. Thus it
will be clearly seen that the present
large plant is the untiring effort of
brains and conservative business dis
cipline.
The present homo of this modern
printery is one of the most ideal for a
business of this kind that you would
find anywhere. Three floors are em
ployed, comprising 16,000 square feet.
Being desirous of leading in their lino
and feeling that Augusta needs a thor
oughly modern appointed printing es
tablishment, the present proprietors,
and sons of the pioneer printer, Messrs.
Changes Now Taking Place on Bay
Street Obliterating Many Quaint
and Interesting Landmarks Here
Is Suggested That, if Possible, Transplant Some of the Beau
tiful Trees to Augusta’s Parks-- There’s An Irish Yew in
Yard of Richards Home---A Bit of Interesting History.
The changes now taking place in
Augusta will obliterate many land
marks in her history. The building of
the levee alone has necessitated the
demolishing of homes that once repre
sented all that was worth while in her
domestic and social life. Especially
does the sweeping away of the homes
along Bay street between Center and
Lincoln streets destroy what to the
historian and the lover of the quaint
and picturesque Is the most Interest
ing portion of Augusta. At one time
Ray street within the limits men
tioned was the center of the city’s so
cial life. Tiny quaint old houses they
seem to us now but men and women
of culture and fine social position dis
pensed within their walls a gracious
hospitality. Some of them must once
have boasted grounds of considerable
extent for there are still to be seen
rare trees and shrubs long since out
of fashion and some of them almost
extinct. It Is a pity that all these
things that are associated with the
beauty and grace of an historic! past
should pass Into oblivion. Might it not
be possible to save some of these old
fashioned trees and shrubs for the
coming generations, who may know
more of what Nature has so lavishly
bestowed upon us than the present
utilitarian race. Thero is, feu example.
In the garden of the old Richards place,
on Bay street, corner of Elbert, a tree
rare and beautiful the Irish yew.
Whether It would bo possible to trans
plant It or to secure a slip from It I
do not know,-but It would be an orna
ment to our city parks. There Is In
the same garden a hedge of the sweet
laurel, much beloved by our grand
mothers, who used It not only as the
ornament of their gardens, but as ths
flavoring for certain dishes. Many
other old-fashioned favorites, the
sweet-shrub, the lantena, the spieras
and the snowball, are waiting there
the ruin that Is to overtake them.
Would thit some lover of these -mute
children of beauty might find a place
for them In some corner of his own
garden or in the city parks.
The Richards home, which up to a
few months ago was occupied and had
been for many years by the family of
Mr. Joseph Milligan Richards, was
originally the old rectory of Bt. Paul's
c hurch. Several years after Dr. C. C.
Williams came to Augusta the new
Gieerie street rectory wax built. Pro
vlous to that, for nearly over half a
century, the Richards home had been
Kt. Paul's rectory. The Rev. William
Henry Clarke, who preceded Dr. Wil
liams as rector of Bt. Paul’s, was a
great lover of flowers and his quslnt
did garden Is still recalled by older
Augustan*. Fragrant old-time little
Roman hyacinths bordered all the
beds, that are still laid out. in the same
quaint patterns. Previous to Mr.
Clarke’s occupancy of the rectory It
was the home of the Rev. and Mrs.
Edwin Ford, so far many year* It has
been hallowed by a religious Influence,'
as It were, and the flowers have been
characteristic of old-time sentiment
The old Irish yew tree was planted In
the years that are gone by the Rev
Dr. Ford. Supplementing It was a
magnificent rosebush which was trailed
In the shape of a cross. When In
bloom, which It was almost all the
year round, the cross was a gorgeous
Beddings and Thad C. Jowitt, have just
installed a complete outfit of steel dio
and copper plate engraving presses
which wilt enable this old and popular
firm to do all kinds of engraving, call
ing card 4 society ami wedding station
ery. emobsßing, lithographing, etc.,
that hereto could not be supplied by
an Augusta firm, all orders for this
high-class work being sent to out-of
town concerns. They have also added
a new two-color Mlehle press, which
will enable the plant to do all classes
of color work. This Is one of the most
Important acquisitions to Augusta's list
of modern and up-to-date industries
that lias been noted in a long time, and
one tho citizens of the city will read
with tho greatest Interest. It not only
attests to Augusta’s thrift and Improve
ment, but also to tho fact that Messrs.
Jowitt have confidence in their unlive
town and feel that, by continued ap
plication to business, giving the trade
the best fTTtve ■ to bo had in printing
art, they will fill a long-felt want.
They have also installed 20 electric
motors, generating the current direct
to each and every machine, thus sav
ing the annoyance and "old-time
method” of having shafts running the
entire length of the hulldtng In ordef
to transmit the power. All floors are
equipped with tile latest system of In
tercommunication telephones, Which Is
a great convenience to firms of tho
immensity and Importance as Is this
one. The dressing rooms for their em
ployes nre provided with lookers and
shower baths; there is reallv nothing
lacking that could make It more mod
ern in Its every appointment. Another
and important method employed l>y the
Bboenlx Printing company is tho use
of transveyers for transferring printed
and blank stock front one place in tho
establishment to another. This sa.ves
constant handling and reduces the cost
of production.
The Jowitt brothers will carry a
large stock of office furniture and fix
tures, Including desks and filing de
vices, both wood ami steel, and nil tho
latest supplies of every kind for the
office. In other words, it will he tho
aim of this progressive firm to keep in
stock anything the business man may
wish, and to supply his every need In
printing, lithographing, engraving,
steel die, embossing and exquisite
crest, monogram and Initial social
stationery.
Tho Messrs. Jowltts will be pleased
to see their friends at any time In their
new quarters, nnd have you Inspect nnt
of the finest and best equipped plants
in the South. A warm welcome awaits
you at all hours of the day.
mass of pure white blossoms. The
yew tree signified death and the cross
twined with exquisite flowers eternity,
and the floral or horticultural com
bination spoke eloquently of the long
gone past, when this *ll e was one of
the few notable ones Iri the city, then
comparatively now.
Another bunch of plants or trees
that would show effectively in a pub
lic park are the japonlcaa that are at
the old Joslnh Sibley home, now owntjd
and occupied by W. T. llanklnson.
And still another tree of historical
value, as It were, is the weeping willow
that grows In thn Ham Denning gar
den at the foot of Lincoln street. The
Denning place was owned many years
ago by the Galrdners. English people,
MaJ. J. T. Gatrdner having served with
distinction under Wellington. The
tree Is grown from a scion taken from
the grave of the great Napoleon Rona
parto. Just why Major Gatrdner plant
ed this tree In his garden is not known,
possibly It was to keep In perpetual re
membrance the fact that the great Na
poleon was a thing of the past. It
might be r good Idea to plant this tree
also In one of the publlo parks.
INSTALLATION OE
OF C. OFFICERS
To Be Conducted at 4 O’Olock
This Afternoon By State
Deputy M. 0. Carroll, Jr., of
Atlanta.
There will be an Installation of of
ficers in the Patrick Walsh council,
No. 677, Knights of Columbus, this
afternoon at 4 o’clock. In the K. of G.
hall. State Deputy M. C. Carroll, Jr.,
of Atlantic will conduct the Installa
tion.
The following are the newly-elected
officers to be Installed:
Grand Knight, C. C. Mulherfn
Deputy Grand Knight, J. T. Fogarty,
chancellor, W M Nlron
Warden. George C. Meadowcroft.
Financial Secretary, R. B. Heslen.
Recording Secretary, C. V. Mark
waiter.
Treas'irer. C. J. Sweeney.
Inside Guard, F. J Bherman.
Outside Guard, Albert Markwalter.
Lecturer, J. J. Tarleton.
ANNUAL THANKSGIVING
SERVICES THURSDAY A. M.
All the churches of the Ministerial Al
liance will hold their annual Thanks
giving service Thursday morning st 11
o’clock at th* First Presbyterian church.
Dr. W. It. Dillard, pastor of the HL
Jsm»» Methodist church, will preside.
Offerings will he sent for the relief of
the homeless Belgians.
Suits, $9.50. $11.25, sls end $13.75, all
wool, 'nicely made. F. G. Martin’s.
Bankers Sound Note of Warning;
Say Conditions To Be Distressing
Unless Farmers Sell Some Cotton
One Banker Says By Refusing to Sell Cotton Farmers Are
Checking Evidences of Prosperity Which Are Being Mani
fested in Other Sections
SAYS HONEST FARMERS WILL GO TO
CREDITORS AND MAKE ARRANGEMENTS
FOR LIQUIDATION OF INDEBTEDNESS
Enormous Stock of Cotton in Augusta Now and Many Thous
ands of Bales Being Held on the Farm, All of Which Farm
ers Refuse to Sell.
Bankers of Augusta nre a unit in de
claring that there is absolute neces
sity for farmers to sell a largo portion
of their cotton. Of course, they are
not referring to farmers who do not
owe money, for they can do ns they
please, but there are comparatively
few farmers who do not owe money
that their creditors are In great and
pressing need of now.
"I ant not an alarmist,” said one
prominent banker yesterday, “but with
nearly 160,000 halos In Augusta now
unsold, with cotton stacked up In front
of almost every farm house and with
an apparent resolute determination ot
many farmers not to sell no matter
how badly their creditors may bo
pressed for money, I fear that there
will be numerous financial embarrass
ments after tho Christmas holidays.
One who makes a day-light trip from
Augusta to Atlanta will lie convinced
of (lie truth of the assertion that there
are many thousands of trnles lying in
the yards of farm houses, in addition
to tlie hundreds of thousands that are
lu warehouses in tills section of the
South, and (lie owners do not have
any notion of selling.
Checking the South,
‘‘By their refusal to sell their cot
ton the farmers are cheeking In the
South the evidences of returning pros
perity which are manifesting them
selves In other portions of the coun
try. They are holding their cotton,
causing It to do neither them nor their
creditors any good. They should know
that the war is to be of long duration
and that it will be a long, long time
before they see ten cents cotton again.
Then, too, by holding this crop they
are piling up a tremendous surplus,
which will help bear down the prices
of next year’s crop. I maintain that
1 am l'ar from an alarmist, but .if the
farmers do not sell their cotton and
llciuldato some of their Indebtedness
there Is ijrotng to bo a grave crisis In
Ihe South; there will bo bankruptcies
In startling quantities and the bard
times we shall see will he the worM
In many years, possibly In the history
of thlH section of the South, barring
the civil war.
The Honest Farmer.
"The honest farmers will go to tlielf
creditors and make sotna arrangements
for their Indebtedness. They will find
those whom they owe most reasonable
people, willing to meet them half way
and do anything to help them next
R. R. Commission to Consider Tuesday
Petition to Take Off Georgia Trains
Expected That Picayune Pa
trons Will Make Strong Pro
test to Taking Off Early
Morning Train Into Augusta
MANY THINK FAST TRAINS
SHOULD BE ONES TAKEN
OFF IF ANY TRAINS
ARE TO GO
People Between Augusta and
Thomson Would Rather Have
No Fast Trains and Oo Back
to Old Midnight Express. Say
Through Travel Being Built
Up at Expense of Local Travel
On Tuesday the Georgia, railroad com
mission will consider the question of
tl|e Georgia railroad taking off Iwo of
Its trains. Horn# time ego a petition
wa* filed hy the railroad officials re
questing permission to tako off the train
which arrives here at 11 o'clock each
morning and leaves at 4:45 p. m.
This train comes from and ••eturns to
Union Point. The commission wa* asked
In the same petition for permission to
lake off the two fast trains, one of
which arrive* in Augusta each day at
6:25 p. rn. and the other leaves at 12:80
p. m. for Atlanta. However, Oene.ral
Manager Wlekersham subsequently an
nounced that" inasmuch as traval was
picking up a little ha would not ask for
permission to take off the fast trains.
The question wa* raised that the peo
ple between Camak and Union Point
would not be served hy the proper train
service if the so-called Buckhead train,
due here at 11 a. m., was taken off, be
cause It would compel them to spend the
night in Auguata whenever they came
here. In deference to them the rail
road officials decided to change their
Plan* and ask for the picayune, that
comee Into the city at S:4S a m., to he
abolished, anu also the Ruckhend going
out al 4.45 p. m., and allow ths pica
ynne to run to Union Point. That
meant that the train arriving at 3:45
a. ni. and Ihe one leaving at 4:46 p. m.
would run no longer If the railroad com
mission allowed tile road to take .them
off. However, the abollton o f the pica
yune train Into Augusta, which service
I* time honored In the history of the
Georgi i road, and the plan to have the
first train Into Augusta each day at
11 o'clock a. m. Immediately aroused the
commuters and other patrons of that
train between Augusta and Thomson and
they are protesting vigorously for the
retention of the picayune and do not
care particularly whether the Buckhead
Is kept on or not. They want to get
Into Augusta to their work early such
morning; they eay they have purchased
homes along the line of road because of
the picayune bringing them to the city
each day In time for their work and they
do not care whether the picayune conies
from Union Point. MllledgevlUe, Camak,
Ms con or Athens. Just so It comes slong
In time to get them to Auguste about
2 o'clock. Bo there will be conflicting
year. But tho merchants, the cotton
factors and tho hankers cannot extend
credit to people who refuse to regard
their obligations and arbitrarily fix a
price of ten cents on their cotton and
tell their creditors they will not sell
until it reaches this figure. They vir
tually tell their creditors to go hang
when they ask for payment of debts.
”1 repeat, nnd you cannot make It
too strong, that the honest farmer is
going to tils creditors, lay all of his
cards on the table and make some ar
rangements for paying all or large
portions of bis indebtedness. He must
do this or the business depression we
tlilnk we are experiencing will bo In
significant by comparison to what we
shall see after Ehrlstmas.
Be Just to Creditors.
"A farmer should calmly sjialy*»
the situation and be just to his cred
itors. Talk about hard times, why the
farmers who have not paid any of
Uielr debts haven't felt the hard times.
They have been able to sell their cot
ton seed, some potatoes and other ar
ticles, In addition to a few bales of
cotton, and have lived all right. But
what about the country merchant, tho
city merchant, the country banker and
the city hanker whom they owe? Do
not these people have their obligations
to meet? Of course they do, and they
are the ones on whom the brunt of
the hard times Is falling. All of us
know that tho law of supply and de
mand governs prices nnd this year
vvltii a bumper cotton crop and a
largely curtailed demand we shoqld
expect nothing else besides low prices.
We would have had low prices even
though there had been no war, al
though 1 do not. of course, pretend to
say that they would have been as low,
as now.
Over 145,000 Bales.
"Our more than 145,000 bales of co4-i
ton in Augusta now, If sold, would
bring over $5,000,000, and suppose this
money was turned over ten times.
$50,000,0110 of debts would be paid. I
do not say that a farmer should sail
all of his cotton but it Is not fair to
his creditors for him to hold it all. If
he doesn't, want to pay all of his in
debtedness at least give his creditors
some of his cotton as security, be
cause when they cannot collect money
that Is due them they have to ask for
extensions from those whom they om
and additional collateral is asked of
them.”
opinions and interests represented at the
meeting of the railroad commission
Tuesday when the matter will be heard,
aml f>< i: mlily decided.
Take Off Fast Train.
There are a great many patron* of
the Georgia railroad who think that If
any of the trains are to he taken off
they should be the two fast trains that
make only eight stops between Augusta
and Atlanta and which serve no local
patrons of the road. The first stop of
the fast train that leaves here at 12:80
each day 1» at Thomson, 37 miles from
Augusta.
When the fast train service wa* In
augurated the si'tiediilea of the night
trains were changed and InHtead of
leaving here at 12:15 a. m. and making
stops at various station*, the night ex
press now leaves here at 2 a. nt. and
makes only about the same number of
stops ns the fast trains In the day time.
The express, which left Atlanta about
1 a. m. and arrived her at 7:15 a. m.,
also made stops at towns like Orove
'town, Harlem, etc., whereas It now ar
rives at 2:20 s m. sod does not .g at
these places Now, If the picayune should
ho taken off people between Augusta,
and Camak anxious to come to August*
could not. reach here until Id e. m. For
merly they could arrive at 7:15 a. m. and
8:45 a .ni. Now they can arrive at 3:45
a m., and, as stated. If the new ar
rangement goee through they cannot ars
rive until II a. m. _ _
People between August*, and Thom
son Infinitely prefer the old eystem that*
the present one and their protest will
grow even stronger against the proposed
additional change The outcome of ths
case will he watched with Interest
General Manager Wlekersham, In *
recent statcm.nl. declared that the
Georgia was the last road to ask to take
off Iraln* and that ho was trying tot
take off ns few as possible.
Patrons of the road assert that they)
appreciate Mr. Wlekersham’* efforts td
give good service, but that hv is mak
ing things hard for th* local travel**
and correspondingly adding to the conn
fort of the through traveler.
NOTED WMM DOCTOR
SPEAKS HERE THEM
Public School Teachers Will
Hear Dr. Caroline Oeisel aft
Tubman---Public Also Invit«4
Instead of meeting in regular session
the teacher* of the white publlo schools
of Augusta, at the request of Superin
tendent of Schools Lawton B. Evan*,
will attend a lecture on "Health,” td
he delivered Tuesday afternoon at 4
o’clock at the Tubman high school by
Dr. Caroline Gelsel a noted authority
on questions of civic benefit, under thS
auspices of the Woman’s Club of this
city.
The public Is Invited.
This Tuesday Is th* regular day fog
the meeting of the teachers’ normal
class, which Is divided Into two s*c<
lions, under Buperlntendent Divans and
Mr. T. 11. Garrett, respectively.
Shirts, 75c, $1 and $1.(0 at Martin’*
FIVE