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She McHuffte Jragress
VOL. XXIV.
THOMSON, GEORGIA, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1923.
NUMBER 39.
SALE OF COTTON
MILL CONFIRMED
The sale of the Couch cotton mill
at Thomson was confirmed Thursday
of this week and transfer of papers
made to the Candler interests of At
lanta.
Speculation is rife as to what will
be done with the mill. Those who
are in close touch with affairs con
cerning the property are of the opin
ion that it will not be many days
until something is done one way or
another. It is quite certain that the
property will not be junked, as mill
men from South Carolina who looked
it over spoke encouragingly of its
value and prospects as a paying in
vestment.
Demand for cotton mill property
in the South has picked up consider
ably within the past year. Northern
interests are looking this way more
than ever before, working conditions
being one of the main incentives.
Other mill properties in the state are
getting ready to spend three or four
million dollars on improvements and
extensions.
Mill men here confidently expect
to hear something favorable about
the Thomson mill within the next
few days.
WANT TO RETAIN
A COUNTY AGENT
The Thomson Chamber of Com
merce held a called meeting Wednes
day afternoon for the purpose of
taking steps toward supplying- means
of retaining a county agent for Mc
Duffie county for another year, Mr.
Drexel’s term having expired this
month.
The all important question was to
decide as to whether the Chamber of
Commerce would supplement the
agent’s salary to an amount that
would justify hiring him. A com
mittee wa3 appointed to see the busi
ness men of Thomson and ascertain
whether sufficient subscriptions were
forthcoming to do this.
Mr. G. W. Lokey, ordinary of Mc
Duffie county, was present at the
meeting and said the county would
pay the same as last year toward the
salary of the agent.
CATERPILLAR HITS
M’DUFFIECOUNTY
The army worm, or caterpillar, has
hit McDuffie county with a vengeance.
Cotton fields that two weeks ago
were green and flourishing have been
literally stripped of leaves. They
seem to have started the early part
of last week, and by Sunday the
work of devastation was about com
plete in many fields.
Cotton was advanced to such a
stage, however, that damage from
the caterpillar will not be so great as
it would have been had they started
on the leaves before the bolls were
matured. As it is, about all the bolls
had matured to such extent that they
will now open up rapidly since the
leaves have been stripped from the
stalks. Then, too, the boll weevil
will in all probability not do so much
damage to the bolls since the leaves
have disappeared.
Farmers of McDuffie county say
the caterpillar visitation is about the
best thing that could happen to the
cotton at this time, as it hit the crop
at the psychological period.
There is something very peculiar
and interesting about the caterpillar.
The rapidity with which they increase
and the short time it requires them
to eat the leaves off a field of cotton.
Matters not how large the field, it
appears they get all over it about
the same time,and only the cotton
leaves are attacked. Where they
come from in such large numbers
and all at once makes the pest all
the more mysterious.
It is quite evident that the worms
do not crawl from one field to an
other, but is more probable they are
hatched out on the very stalk of cot
ton which they attack. They seem
rather “delicate” in size and struc
ture but with a morbid appetite for
cotton leaves. He is a wonderful
worker, and the completeness with
which he accomplishes his job is in
deed marvelous.
WEEKLY DIGEST FROM
THE NATION’S CAPITAL
NOTED NEGRO LEADER OF
AUGUSTA DIED WEDNESDAY
Rev. Silas X. Floyd, noted colored
preacher and leader of his race, died
at his home in Augusta Wednesday.
Rev. Floyd was well known in
Thomson and McDuffie county, where
he was highly esteemed by both his
own people and white people.
Floyd was a deep thinker and was
always working for the betterment
of his race. The writer had the
pleasure of hearing him preach at a
local colored church, and was deeply
impressed with his earnestness. No
doubt he has done a great deal of
good in advising his brothers how to
walk the narrow way. They have
lost a good friend in Silas Floyd.
PARENT-TEACHERS MEET ING
NEXT TUESDAY P. M.
There will be a meeting of the
Parent-Teachers Association at the
school auditorium next Tuesday af
ternoon at 3 o’clock.
It is urged that a full attendance
of both parents and teachers be pres
ent, as officers for the next term
will be elected.
A short musical program will be
given, after which the subject “The
Parent and Teacher,” will be dis
cussed.
FORD AGENT SETTLES HOTEL
BILL HE LEFT CITY OWING
Washington, Pa.—In response to a
telegram from Henry Ford, L. C.
Rutherford, local agent, Sunday paid
the bill incurred at a local hotel last
week by the Detroit automobile man
ufacturer. Rutherford explained that
Mr. Ford and his party left in a
hurry and forgot to settle with the
management.
ROAD BUILDING
The gravel being used in front of
the Palace Drug Store and City Bank
came from the farm of Mrs. Lulu
Farmer, and was donated by her for
that purpose.
There is a large bed of this gravel
on Mrs. Farmer’s place, just about
one mile from town, covering 113
acres, and has been highly recom
mended by engineers and road build
ers as a covering for highways. It
has a high iron content and becomes
firm and secure when hardened.
This gravel is attrating the attention
of road engineers, several having
been here only recently with the view
of securing the material for road
work.
Washington, D. C., Sept. 20.
FARMERS AND SHIPPING RATES
In a recent address Commissioner
E. C. Plummer of the United States
Shipping Board, replied to the charge
thnt grain was being carried on Ship
ping Board boats at a loss to the
Government. “Of course, we are car
rying that grain at a loss,” said Mr.
Plummer, “but that loss goes back
to the American farmer.”
Speaking of the higher rates on
grain charged by foreign shipping-
companies, Mr. Plummer very forcib
ly declared, “Call it by its right
name: skinning the American public
on shipping rates.” He added: “So
long as the Shipping Board controls
rates we will continue to help stand
the loss and give the benefits to the
American farmer.”
Commissioner Plummer has taken
an advanced stand favoring govern
ment operation of American ships,
and he says that the government can
not only open new lines, but that
there is no need for it to be ineffi
cient. He has called attention to an
article in a recent number of “Fair-
play,” England’s maritime voice,
which gives full credit to the Ship
ping Board for its achievements. The
paper says:
“The Shipping Board is not only
giving the shipper ample service all
the year round, instead of for a lim
ited number of months, but is sailing
its boats on regular dates that the
shipper can absolutely depend on.
This want of regular sailings has
been in existence for many years
past, but the European owners have
made little effort to supply it.”
“The direct financial handicaps
which hamper American vessels in
our foreign trade are not due to in
efficiency either in the deck force on
the engine crew,” explained the Com
missioner. “They are due to Ameri
can standards of living which affect
American ships from the time (In u*
keels are laid—wages being the larg
est item. To overcome these disad
vantages government aid is neces
sary, and is wholly appropriate. To
quote the words of the late Presi
dent Harding, ‘If government imposes
upon American ships burdens which
their competitors are not compelled
to bear, then government should bear
those burdens.’ ”
BOLL WEEVIL MEET DIES AT AGE OF
IN NEW ORLEANS
vestigation of the Department of
Commerce into the volume of invis
ible exchange said: •
“For 1922 there was due us from
foreign countries, from the excess of
our exports over our imports of mer
chandise, an amount of $754,000,000.
However, when we take into account
such ‘current invisible’ items as the
movement of interest, remittances
to emigrants, tourist expenditure,
ocean freights, etc., we find that our
citizens have sent to or spent in for
eign countries a net balance of about
$425,000,000 more than we have re
ceived on such accounts, and thus
the balance due us arising from mer
chandise is reduced to about $329,-
000,000. As affecting this sum we
have received about $240,000,000 net
gold and silver imports and in addi
tion have exported capital in the
shape of purchases of foreign secu
rities, etc., over and above the im
ports of capital of the same charac
ter to the net amount of about $669,-
000,000 during the year 1922, and
were there no previous obligations
to be accounted for this would
amount to an investment abroad of
more than the amounts due us.”
CARRIER PIGEONS RELEASED
HERE SUNDAY MORNING.
One hundred pigeons, shipped here
from Charleston, S. C., arriving Sat
urday, were released at the Georgia
depot Sunday morning at seven
o’clock for the race back to Charles
ton.
They were carrier pigeons, belong
ing to members of the Palmetto
Club, of Charleston, and no doubt
there were wagers up as to which
would arrive at the dove-cote first.
Several men and boys got up a
little earlier than usual for Sunday
morning to watch the birds take wing
bn their long journey back home. As
Mr. Goolsby, express agent, released
them, the pigeons at first started
south, but pretty soon found they
were headed wrong and turned east
ward, their inborn instinct telling
them in which direction they should
go.
100 YEARS OLD, VISITS SON.
Mrs. Sarah Elling Johnson, who
lives on Gordon street, spent last
week visiting her son, Mr. R. L.
Johnson, in Lincolnton. Mrs. John
son was 100 years old July 18th of
this year, and considering her ad
vanced years it is considered remark
able that she is still able to travel
and visit her relatives. She was ac
companied to Lincolnton by Mr. and
Mrs. F. A. Ansley and children and
Mrs. George Arnett.
MAN PARDONED AFTER 19
YEARS VISITS THE CAPITOL
F. M. Allens, of Coweta county,
visited Atlanta for the first time in
more than twenty years Monday. He
came to thank Governor Walker for
pardoning him, after service of 19
years at the state prison farm, on
a life sentence for murder.
“I don’t know how to get around
in Atlanta now, hardly, and I don’t
know what to do with myself. I’m
so accustomed to being ordered what
j to do and what not to do,” Allens
said. “I am young enough to start
1 life over, if I can find something to
do. I was in the furniture business
when I was sent to prison.”—Atlan
ta Journal.
SELLS SHIPPING BOARD SHIPS.
The United States Shipping Board
has sold seven combination freight-
and-passenger ships, known as the
502 type, to the Dollar Line, of San
Francisco. These vessels will be
operated in an around-the-world ser
vice, starting at San Francisco and
touching Japan, China, Philippines,
Java, Straits Settlements, Singapore,
India, through the Suez, Egypt, Med
iterranean ports to New York, thence
through the Panama Canal to home.
By arrangement with the Board, this
service is guaranteed for live years.
This will be the first round-the-world
servie of this kind that has been in
augurated, for while the Dollar Com
pany is maintaining freight boats on
this service today, there are no other
ships now in a continuous service
around the world under any flag.
The Shipping Board is of the belief
that this service will be of a great
value to American travelers and mer
chants, and it will have the full sup
port of the Board in its effort to
build up an American
marine.
of
REGISTRATION OF MOTOR
V EHICLES.
The Bureau of Public Roads
the United States Department of Ag
riculture says that on duly 1 the
total registration of motor cars and
trucks amounted to 13,002,427, an
increase of 764,052 since the first of
the year. In these figures allow
ance has been made for registration
and non-resident registrations as far
as possible. "The rate of increase is
the same as that wliich has prevail
ed since 1916 during which time reg
istrations have increased from 3,-
512,996 to 13,002,427 in a period of
six and one-half years.
Trucks and commercial cars now
number 1,371,058, an inc v ease of 92,-
254 since January 1, and the rate nf
increase is greater than that for the
total registration of all vehicles.
TRADE WITH JAPAN.
Trade of the United States with
Japan totalled 585 million dollars in
the fiscal year 1923 against 149 mil
lion dollars in 1913, 65 million in
1903 and 30 million in 1893. That
the trade with our neighbor across
the Pacific has far outgrown that
with other parts of the world is evi
denced by the fact that the 1923
trade with Japan is 19 times as much
as in 1893, 30 years earlier, while
our total foreign trade in 1923 was
only 5 times as much as in 1893.
Atlanta, Ga., Sept. 20.—Bankers
here and in other parts of the state
and the South, according to reports
reeived in Atlanta, are taking un
usual interest in the forthcoming Na
tional Boll Weevil Menace Conven
tion which is to be held in New Or
leans October 16th and 17th.
Governor M. B. Wellborn, of the
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta,
covering the states of Georgia, Ala
bama, Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi
and Louisiana, has urged bankers
throughout the sixth federal district
to attend the convention. The Atlan
ta Bank, it is stated, is vitally in
terested in the solving of the boll
weevil problem, affecting as it does
the largest agricultural territory of
the district.
It is estimated that the loss to
American commerce by the boll wee
vil, according to bankers here, is a
billion and a half dollars in the last
five years. It is well called “the bil-
lion-dollar” bug, as they point out.
Governor Wellborn, of the Atlanta
Federal Bank, and other leading fin
anciers, who have discussed the sub
ject here, show that the enormous
losses caused by the weevil fall upon
the shoulders of the farmers, bank
ers, transportation, manufacturing
and mercantile interests. It is there
fore, bankers assert, a problem which
seriously affects the financial inter-
eses of the South and one which the
bankers should assist in solving—if
any solution may be found.
The New Orleans convention has
been called by the Louisiana Bonk
ers Association joined by Governor
John M. Parker, of Louisiana, and
Mayor Andrew J. McShane, of New
Orleans, to devise ways and means
to combat the losses by the boll wee-
/il.
It is expected that the convention
will be attended by the most repre
sentative body of business men ever
held in the South. In attendance
will be business men in all lines of
industry, including manufacturers,
bankers, railroad, steamboat - and
steamship represntatives, as well a3
those engaged in agriculture.
Pointing to the fact that the com
ing convention is both “timely and
wise,” cotton men show that the
South’s great staple since the civil
war and prior to the world war, was
responsible for the favorable trade
balance. They show further that
supremacy of the United States as
the greatest cotton producer in the
world is threatened, and the national
prosperity in consequence, due to the
menace and ravages of the Mexican
boll weevil.
EIGHTY-FIVE YRS.
Mr. Thomas Raley, a Confederate
veteran, died at the age of 85 year*
at the home of his daughter, Mrs.
Ellen Rabun, on Gordon street, Sat
urday afternoon at 12:30 o’clock.
While he had been confined to his
bed only a few days prior to hi*
death, Mr. Raley had been in feeble
health for some time, due to his ex
treme age.
He is survived by one daughter,
Mrs. Ellen Rabun, and several grand
children.
Interment was at Zoar church, in
Glascock county, Sunday afternoon,
Rev. C. C. Kiser conducting the fun
eral ceremony.
MR. R. T. ADAMS
DIED LAST WEEK
Mr. R. T. Adams, of WrightsborO,
died at his home last Friday night
about 9 o’clock after an illness ex
tending over several months of tuber
culosis. He came home Sunday from
the sanitarium at Alto, where he
went with the hope of securing relief
from the malady. Doctors there told
him there was no hope of a cure, so
he returned home with the result
that he died the following Friday
after his return. He was about 60
years of age.
Mr. Adams is survived by his wife
and the following children: Guy,
Bob and Ellis Adams; Mrs. Joe
Reese, Mrs. Earl Norris. Also one
brother, Mr. A. G. Adams, and three
sisters, Mrs. W. T. Reese, Mrs. Bessie
Smith, Mrs. S. F. Dunaway.
Interment took place Saturday af
ternoon at 5 o’clock at Pine Grove
cemetery, funeral services being con
ducted by Rev. P. V. Berry.
POSTAL SAVINGS.
The largest increase since Decem
ber, 1920, was recorded in Postal
Savings accounts during the month
of August over that of July, accord
ing to figures received by the Post
master General.
DOMESTIC BUSINESS.
Early figures on business condi
tions for August received by the Bu
reau of the Census, Department of
Commerce, indicate increased produc
tion in several lines, such as locomo
tives, illuminating glassware, corn
grindings, Northern pine lumber, and
naval stores. Declines from July are
reported in the output of pig iron, in
zinc production and in building con
struction. Wholesale prices for Au
gust compiled by Dun and Bradstreet
increased, but the price index of
lumber and finished steel declined.
Employment in factories showed
a very slight decrease. Business
failures increased in number over
July, but the amount of defaulted
liabilities declined. A smaller amount
of agricultural loans were made by
the War Finance Corporation in Au
gust and repayments increased.
EDUCATIONAL PICTURES.
During the fiscal year ending July
1, 1923, motion pictures of the De
partment of the Interior were shown
to 2,567 audiences totaling over
693,000 persons in 48 States and
Alaska. The Department through
the Bureau of Mines has 301 sets of
films in circulation, of which 185 sets
are distributed by its Pittsburg sta-
merchant tion and 166 are loaned to educational
centers. During the year 42 sets
were shown in 9 foreign countries by
Government officials of the highest
rank and officials of foreign technical
associations.
36.3 per cent; April, 149,100,000 kil
owatt-hours, 39.9 per cent; May,150,-
100,000 kilowatt-hours, 41.3 per cent;
June, 151,100,000 kilowatt-hours, 38.9
per cent; July, 146,300,000 kilowatt-
hours, 36.7 per cent.
INVISIBLE EXCHANGE.
Secretary of Commerce Hoover in
his summary of the results of the in
ELECTRIC POWER.
The average daily production of
electricity by public utility power
plants for the month of July was
146.300.000 kilowatt-hours, about 3
per cent less than the average rate
for June. Apparently there occurs
each year what may be called the
“July slump.” No explanation can
be advanced at present for this slow-
ing-up of the production of electric
ity in July. The records for other
years indicate that the average out
put for August will be greater than
the rate for June.
The average daily production of
electricity for each of the first seven
months of 1923 and the proportion
produced by water power were as fol
lows: January, 153,300,000 kilowatt-
hours, 34 per cent; February, 154,-
400.000 kilowatt-hours, 33.9 per cent;
A GOOD LEGAL RECORD.
During the past two years, 32,211
appeals and legal matters relating to
public lands, pensions, retirements,
oil and gas leases, Indian allotments,
and war minerals relief cases have
been passed upon and disposed of by
the Solicitor’s Office of the Depart
ment of Interior. For the preceed-
ing two years 20,797 similar matters
were handled showing that an in
crease of 54 per cent in the amount
of legal work performed by the Solic
itor in 1921 and 1922 without any in
crease in the numerical force of the
office.
GOOD LIVE INDIANS.
The Indians of the Kiowa agency
ONE WEEK MORE
SPECIAL OFFER
Remember, the special offer of
$1.00 for one year’s -subscription to
The McDuffie Progress closes Sep
tember 30th. After that date it will
be $1.50 per year.
As stated before, it is the purpose
to give the subscribers the benefit of
any premiums that might be offered
for getting up subscriptions, and wS
are leaving it up to the subscriber*
to take advantage of this cut rate
for the month of September only.
This offer applies to both old and
new subscribers, and many of both
kinds are taking advantage of it. The
Progress is gratified at the large
number of new subscribers coming
in, and for the hearty response of re
newals.
Cotton Rolling In;
Brings Good Price
Cotton came in lively this week,
several hundred bales coming to the
gins and warehouses here. Farmers
were very busy picking, taking ad
vantage of the pretty weather that
has prevailed for the past three or
fuor weeks.
Prices in Thomson ranged above
29 cents the latter part of the week
with good prospects for 30 cent3.
TRAFFIC RULES AUTHOR GETS
DOSE OF HIS OWN MEDICINE
-q
Utica, N. Y.—A motorist who said
he was Vincent M. Brennan, of De
troit, member of congress, and circuit
judge-elect, who drafted the Detroit
located near Anadarko, Oklahoma, traffic regulations copied in many
have established a record in making cities, was arrested on a charge of
rapid strides toward civilization. , reckless driving here Saturday night.
Out of 1,940 families on this reserva-j He deposited $50 bail for appearancfl
tion but 75 are now living in tents 1 in the city court Monday but forfeit-
or tepees, according to data collected ed the bail.
by the United States Indian Office.
CARS—LOTS OF THEM.
Despite the fact that loading of
revenue freight for the week of Sep
tember 1st, amounted to 1,092,567
cars, the greatest number for any
week in history, the railroads of the
United States had on that date 66,559
surplus freight cars.
Brennan was ax-rested after his
car had struck and wrecked a boy’s
bicycle.
TENT MEETING ATTRACTING
LARGE CROWDS.
The Gospel tent meeting at the
corner of Journal and Greenway
streets, which has been in progress
for the past several days, has been
THE ALASKA RAILROAD. largely attended. " <•
The revenues of the Alaska Rail- The services are being conducted
road for the fiscal year ending June by three women preachers, Mrs. Nina
30, 1923, showed a gain of $200,686. Dean and Mrs. Wright and daughter.
Revenues for the fiscal year of 1923 | Many Thomson people are taking a
were $758,031. The revenues for. the profound interest in the meeting. It
previous fiscal year of 1922 were i was not learned how long the aer-
March, 152,500,000 kilowatt-hours, $557,344.
vices would be continued.