Newspaper Page Text
from direct And indirect ttucea.
The estimated expenditures for tn
pout fiscal year show figures amount
lng to 11,171,000.00, leaving a surplu
revenue over expense* amounting b
'$12-1,2*0.00. ' ?
Assessment of Property.
It ls ? welt known feet that the ta:
burden ls not equally dlxitributad, an<
lt appears that a very large amoun
of personal property li? escaping taxa
tlon. Comptroller General Jones, whi
1s a capable, thoroughly competen
and conscientious cmcer, believes, af
tor careful study of the complex ques
tioijB Involved, that our present laws
with a few si!/ rht amer dments, are auf
Sclent to com.st these avila I agrei
with tilm in this belief, "'s.
This being the year for the^reassess
mont of all properties^ the comptroUei
general has made a determined elf or
to enforce the tax laws. He. has nae
a digest of the tax laws prepared
copies of which hav(? been sent to. eacl
assessing officer throughout the State
* with Instructions to these officers aa tc
the proper enforcement of these laws
? Our laws require that all taxable
property shall be .assessed at its rea.
. value. Thia^ia a wine providion, bo
. cause the tax assessor must have
some fixed standard, to the end thai
all. properly should be equally assess
ed, thus making the burden of taxa
tion rest alike upon all. An increasec
. assessment does not mean an increase
in taxation, but simply means ax
equalising of the burden. A certair
amount of money is necessary to meei
\ the requirements of the State govern
ment and a higher assessment would
necessarily ' mean a corresponding de
crease in the rate of taxation.
It is sometimes urged against an In
creased as8essment that the rate be
ing fixed by the general assembly upon
the last assessment, that should there
be a decided increase in the assessment
of property, the amount collected world
be more than suffie?ent for the , ex
penses of government;. This objection
is fully met In tho report of the
comptroller general. He points out
that thc general assembly can deter
mine the appropriations for both State
and county and can authorize, a suffi
cient levy, based upon the assessed
valuation of property as finally decided
upon. This levy, I may add, could be
fixed ,for the State by the comptroller
general and the Sta':e treasurer, and
for the counties by tue various county
commissioners.
In reference to the three-mill tax
fixed in the constitution for education
al purposes, the comptroller points out
that If this tax. on the Increased assess
ment, should alone realize a sufficient
sum for the support of the schools,
the special school levies could be dis
pensed with, and other revenues now
going to the schools might be diverted
to the county treasuries, thus reducing
the county levy. In my opinion, how
ever, we cannot get too much money
for tho support of the schools, certain .
ly not under the present conditions.
. Tho comptroller general also makes
a number of other recommendations,
all of which I commend to your con
sideration.
I must repeat to you my recom
mendation of last year In reference to
- county auditors and treasurers. These
officers, for very good reason, should
no longer be subjected to political In
fluences and to the neglect of their dut}?
incident to political campaigns for re
election.
The report of the work during the last
year by the comptroller general con
tains most valuable Information and
well deserves your most careful con
sideration.
This re oort will show that there are
now S.S04 old soldier? or their widows
upon the pension roll3 of the State,
to whom $200,000.00 is annually paid.
It will be seen that when this appro
priation is distributed it amounts to
very little in Individual cases. If the
prosperity of the State continues I
should be glad to see thia appropria
tion for tho brave defenders of their
homes and country increased as much
ab possible.
The report of the sinking fund com
mission will be promptly submitted to
your body. These funds have been well
managed, as will appear from the re
port
Permit me to mention here, with the
sense of loss and the sadness which we
m\ist all feel, the death of a valued
Bucli extracta from, my lost mciisagre
as I deem necessary for this purpose
[ herewith submit for your considera
tion . the following extracts > bearing
upon the subject with one change,,
.namely: the abolition of county Boards
Di control. These are again recom
mended to you as embodying the
changes which I think win beat Berv?
the proper r?gulation of the dispen
sary system:
. '.'The State; rommissioner should, in
my Judgment," be the .officer - whose
.2 ut y it should be tb purchase all sup
plies for the dispensary* He should be
required to make contracts* not for
my specific amount of liquor, but for
such supplies as may be actually re
quired, such requirements to be de
termlned- by the commissioner.
"Each contract made by the commis
sioner should require the firm con
tracted with to,"guarantee -the sale~of
such. goods as may be ordered and
shipped to the State dispensary, said
guarantee to be entered as a part bf
the bond. All advertisements for bulk
goods should be placed strictly and ab
solutory upon a competitive basis, by
letting lt be distinctly understood that
the lowest responsible bidder shall be
awarded the contract It should'fur
ther be the duty of the commissioner
to make, each year, quarterly^ reports
to the State board of director&v show
ing the amounts contracted for for the
previous quarter, including the brands
md prices, and the names of parties
from whom goods are purchased,
which report the State board of direc
tors shall hiive published In at least
two dally newspapers of the State." -
State Board ol Directora.
"The board should be required to
meet each week In their office In the
State dispensary, to remain in session
as long as may be necessary for the
transaction of their business. Tho
general supervision and management of
all county dispensaries should be in
their charge, and they should be spe
cifically charged with the duty of seeing
that all restrictions governing the
various dispensaries should be strictly
enforced. These are responsible and ar
duous duties, for which the members
of this board should receive a salary
of not less than $1,500 per annum each,
and should tie required to file a bond
of not less than $10,000.
"I further recommend that the law
as to the location of county dispen
saries be amended to restrict them to
such Incorporated towns and cities as,
In the opinion of the board of. direc
tors, furnish adequate police protec
tion to *he public against, disturbances
of the peace."
In this conectlon I might add that
dispensaries are now located in places
which are without adequate police' pro
tection-some In places with absolutely
no protection. All dispensaries so lo
cated, in my opinion., should be closed.
Ai ter mature reflection I am con
strained to* recommend that the county
boards of control be abolished, and the
dispensers appointed by the State board
of directors upon the recommendations
of the legislative* delegations of the va
rious counties.
It should never be the policy of the
State to force dispensaries upon coun
ties or communities desiring prohibi
tion, nor to maintain them when lt is
the wish of the majority of the people
to substitute prohibition In their stead.
Legislation should be enacted at this
! session to free the system from the
I abuses which have crept in, to em
phasize Its restrictive features, and to
ensure proper compliance with the
strict letter of. the law. This matter
j will certainly be brought to your at
tention at this session of your body.
I sincerely trust that you will give lt
your most careful consideration, and
that you will, with a realization of
your responsibilities, make a fearless
and determined effort to effect such
changes as will at least relieve our
State of the reproach which certain
features of the dispensary system have
cast upon us. I need not assure you
that In the discharge of this duty I am
ready and willing to aid you in every
way that Hes in my power.
Enforcement of Prohibition.
The enforcement of prohibition in
counties which have voted out dispen
saries presents a serious problem. The
present law, as I construe lt, makes it
I the duty of the governor, whenever he
J this def oct, and beg- to call them speel
flcally to your attention. In the es
tablishment of free rural librarles, th
people have - shown . what. wisdon
prompted your action In making; eve:
a small appropriation. ..In. voting t
taxI themselves for 'the establlshmeh
of school" districts, this same spiri
has been shown,, and i, believe that I
will be again manifested with strong
practical results, should ,. this matte;
receive from you'the recognition,ask
ed for. .
It was moat gratifying to me ti
'note an increase in the average salbrj
paid to teachers-my only regret t
that this was;not. very much larg?i
than the amount recorded. These ari
not only faithful worlcers, with .gravi
responsibilities, but they muBt neodi
be trained, cultivated and intelligent
and lt would be most gr?tifylng:to m<
to see them paid such salaries a:
would to some , appreciable extent b(
commensurate with the value bf >ih<
services rendered. J Superintendent
Martin's report shows that tho year'i
work has had good results, and e
study of its; details clearly reveal ih?
creased interest in the great cause ol
education throughout our State; and
this interest > among our people maj
certainly be classed among the great
est resources of this great work.
Our Higher Educational institution?.
It ls unquestionably true that the
most vital Interests of our State are
included in the education of her future
citizens and workers. With each suc
cessive year comes again and again
the great necessity and the greater
privilege of doing our share of a work
whose Influences 'will bear .upon the
highest Interests .of our common
wealth through all the years to come.
The highest and most liberal educa
tion possible should be provided for
those of each generation, thus giving
an, ever-increasing number of Intel
ligent, capable and trained men and
women for the service bf their State
and their country.
It does not need to be Impressed
upon your attention that. the very
life of a State, as a free governing
community, depends upon the' care
and thought and work we give to this
greatest of all needs of a people.
The reports from the presidents and
trustees of our higher educational in
stitutions will all be submitted to you
for your considerstjqn. These are In
eluded In the report of the State su
perintendent of education, and I sin
cerely trust that each one of these
valuable papers will have your careful
attention. These colleges are all es
sentially public Institutions, and these
reports are submitted to you for your
guidance, instruction and action. I
am gratified; not only because of the
full and comprehensive Information
therein contained, but feel that the
State ls to be congratulated also, upon
the character and scope of the work
done and the great Interest manifest
ed by these capable and faithful offi
cers.
It is not necessary for me to review
this work at any length In this mes
sage. The reports are all available
and cover every detail necessary for
your consideration. I shall only,
therefore, call your attention most
briefly to each one of our several in
stitutions of learning, with the re
quest that you examine these reports
fully for yourselves.
The usual appropriations, approx
imately, are again asked for this year,
and I heartily recommend your favor
able consideration of these requests.
The records made by these colleges are
a source of pride to us all, and they
should have as liberal support as lt
ls possible for us to bestow.
The old South Carolina college re
ports the largest enrollment of pupils
it has had for many years-a fine
showing. Your body will again be ask
ed to permit the changing of this In
stitution from a bollege to a .univer
sity. This request was denied at
your last sesssloh, and In renewing it
now good reasons will again be sub
mitted for your consideration. 'I rec
ommend that the proposed chance
In keeping with the life, usefulness
and dignity of this Institution-be
made, and I sincerely trust this de
sirable end will be accomplished. This
can be done without conflicting with
the interests of any State institution
In my re?o^^^^^^^M^w?^^^^
establishment o? thia department, to 1
in charge of a State .commissi o nc
I was firmly convinced ^i>? the: nece;
elty for such . official action on tl
part of the State. I have Lconatant:
kept in cloae touch with ^rliat has be<
done, arid, with this* exp?rience I ai
moro firmly convinced than ever of tl
absolute necessity for this work, i
South Carolina; as you fexiow. was tl
first. Southern:' State io establish sui
a department, and this has widely a<
v?rt?sed our resources; ft has b??n ti
aim of< Commissioner Watson, tp ei
tabllsh the work on lasting found*
tions, and I believe he t?as done so.
If we : desire foreign immigration
iir .absolutely, necessary,: under *th
laws ot the''United Staitea, tliat -thj
should se done only thirough . fl-n; 01
ganized Stale department.
The ; development of this work he
shown that not: only were the advanti
ges and 'resources bf South Carolin
comparatively unknown at distar
points, but paid agents vrflfully.maligr
ed.' and misrepresented these and ou
g?n?ral. conditions also. The hardej
work, bas been : accomplished by coi
recting these damaging , reports b
giving accurate' knowledge across th
a eas concerning the ' gre^it advantage
we off er to hoiheseekere.' jCtvls neces
aary to follow tip this at once and vlg
orously," otherwise its usefulness..i
seriously ' impaired. Commissiohe
Watson's report, will show: mue;
which has been accomplished In. .th
establishment 1 of colonies ? and in th
importation of wage^rworkers- In ad
ditlon to this, through water rate
have been secured from ports bf Net
York, Philadelphia and I los ton to cen
tra! Inland pointa In our State.
' The department has reason to thinl
also that Charleston will soon be mad
a port of call for trans-Atlantic linerc
as negotiations are now pending fo
this purpose,! with every prospect O
success. . " ', '.- :.
Interested ones beyond the borders o
our State.have ha.d specific informatloi
concerning the value of. our minera
resources, of our kaolin and clay de
posits? and the advantages of our land
and climate, from the commerda
standpoint, have been widely adver
tlsed also,
I cannot too strongly commend foi
your careful consideration the encour
aging report Commissioner- Wat??or
will submit to you. You cannot afforc
to disregard this report and the'lntor
matlon lt contains, and I sincerely trus
that you will look carefully Into th?
results of his official labors.
Our ?J a tl ctn ni G.iurd.
The report of Adjutant and Inspecta
General Frost set? forth clearly anc
concisely the condition and needs ol
our National Guard. It ?hows that w<
have 1,786 enlisted men, Including offi
cers, and lt is a pleasure for me to sa j
that from my own observation the. ef
ficiency of this militan" organiza'tlor
ls increasing each year. Th o reduc
tion in the number of compa
nies made during the past year wai
not only a ???cessity on account of thc
amounts appropriated by the State and
national government, but ' considered
from the standpoint of efficiency, ll
has proved to be a wise step. I , re
gret,, however, to gather from the re
ports that, in order to meet the re
quirements of the war department,
there will have to be a further reduc
tion, or 'an increased appropriation on
the part of the State v lUI be necessary.
If the State does not assist Its or
ganized militia in meeting certain re
quirements, the general government
will be compelled by law to withhold
the amount it now contributes. While
I wou?d regret to see any further re
duction, yet I realize that it would be
better for the State to have a smal'sr
number of troops, well equipped and
well drilled, than to have a large num
ber with poor equipments and lacking
In discipline and the knowledge of
tactics.
The adjutant general makes recom
mendations which are tc be commend
ed for their own worth, and, coming
from such competent authority, must
commend themselves to your favorable
consideration. Among these he strong
ly urges that the office of adjutant and
Inspector general should be taken out
of politics and be made appointive. He
suggests that this official be appointed
by the governor, upon this recommenda
tion of a majority of the officers of th?
th i! ?ioriN ietn. 1 run eliid to
tnis: -now hospital -for consumptives--ts
noir:about completed," and inrecbgnte
tKiiia ii>f tho valuable services ofASuperirw
t?il?Oifent Cirifflth,. whoJ^w-:in?lnlj^^
spaiBlb?e for this humane undertaking,
tb h. Ifoard of directors have- sep; flt to
nilling this -building the "Grhn^ ?&ipJ
ta i! ; The farina; ?vned by .the State
ail! ; !belna: constantly' .improved
hil WJj jrht fbi a higher Catate. of .cu?tivaV
tliini? These farma,.tn addition to.yield
esr-.iis
Wm
ci |ai. supply of provlstonsi for; tba tiii??
?iji?EBie Jrunatea of the perfitentlary. ? ..
?|l'??j5 reformatory for youthfull^i:^:,
niilfl'iwu. valuable adjunct to.yo
laijtl^ution. This also {a seit-soJrtiiiii
ihjMiahoV the: youthful crim?nalaf.??t?
, ta ?ghtin momentary branches aind ?are
gl min; religious education andvj&ttruc-!
tlO;Q.':, . ? ; ?
State Board o? -Health.
. the State board of health1 Hi thstr
aiurual: report make several-irafiorta?afc
re :cmmendation3 .which should; !.- hjtvej
y<;<?r: favorable attention. ; )ma$$m
s? i ein ld convince us more ?rtd -raorej m.
ttis great value of the work doned\%?ia of
?Wi ? ii?ce?alty of giving all possniifci'??K'
c?iahtgement to this board. :;,'! ^.
C'liaijpnooga, -attended by'' .dd? "
fruni all the Southern States, a i
tl'jih i was":! adopted raques ting. 01 ?I
ifiitentatives in Washington to i?\\?sl.> a
mw' whereby coasts maritime , aijiai:ruii
tltmal frontier J quarantine . shill : -hi
placed exclusively Under the cbnlirift fit
th a United States government; aila 'th Jut
mattera of interstate -quarantine' bi&
pliiced under' thecxmtrblT and jj? rl?dfb?
ritual1 of the general- gov^rnm&ikvcc;*
operating, with the several-State lltoar?ir
of health. , ?'?'.'?'" Mm
??tito State beard of hejaith^n!i??n;(djr
rep?dti' endorse this, arid.further 3-e :o i -
mfji?d that you enact laws Sn cor if linn
ltjr 'urith this resolution They elsa rei?
qi;:eint that, you urge upon bur' delegar
tittn lat Washington th? n?cessit? tor -n
h?tlonal quarantine system; ; ..'
.They also emphasize my recb?ftifte a
dation bf last year asking that they : i>
alUowed to employ a" competent ;phyii2i>
ci m as State health officer, to. give ill!
entire time to this work.
Tin duties of this board are' mc Lt
responsible, ? and I kn?w? from vflspaiijh
eiibe?. in my office, that -much' :';g, et
pi?ct?id. from them, especially in cou-;
trollingthe smallpox situation., Thillr
cfireiully prepared report, to, which I'
In vita your attention, sets forth the
m eel:5 of a most important department
olvonr work. . ';
RiipiirtvOf the Historical Conun?nalon,
On the 20th of last February; lt was
my pleasure to sign the act passed by
your' body at the request of the lils-:
zc ric al commission, this act maldngr
much more suitable provisions and ap
propitiations for the* important. work
entrusted to this commission. The in
teresting report of the work'aiready ac
ccmcilished reveals the wisdom of your
action und contains some necessary
ai; gi res ti ona concerning the further
med? of this department. ' '<
A conveniently located office on the
flu st floor of the State house, contain
ing handsome fireproof cases, ls now,
occupled-by this commission. Many old
documents, papers, records and books
have been arranged and classified and
are stowed away for-preservation. . The
suggestion in this report that at. same
future day a large fireproof building
should be erected by the State ls a
good one, and this need, I trust, win
be met with the growth bf the work.
The recommendation by the commis
sion that the salary of the secretary of
the commission be increased has my
endorsement. "' . '
:in this connection it might be well to
direct the attention of your body to
senate bill 686, providing for the estab
lishment of a United States historical
commission, having for its object the
collecting from public archives and pri
vate manuscript collections abroad
and In the United States, abstracts of
copies of important documents' Illus
trating American colonial history and
the early history of the United States;
making auch investigations ab the
8e?r?tary of State may desire for use
In any pending Iir*erhatfcmal question;
and procuring and preparing for pub
lication' any series bf documents de
u?solute ? . necessity ot cuS.
stringent measures for the
forcemeat of law. and
the : prevention.ot y?n?
spouse; to my request, you
?d .r?^Bdsj?;:ftod-te'"'''
. Tals ^^?l?s. : beehv. *
hausied?vitt'itjs?; proiwcritlori^
which occurred prior io S'^fV^B^mM
slom\
singled conviction ?&ih&-:-&uti& -i)uj>.?
posed tu ber, implicate d> I am aetfefiif
that th? ;apprnprfetlon has 'hot
used in vain. Investigaron* and
ecutlbriawere?pbart^
bf tn?s. f aridV and. the : results;
Btrongljr contributed tb the; uphr
lng of law and order througStf?fac
You.iar? only- too iarnt?i?r ^lh'ti?!?
record of past years.' You knot?iiuM";
South Caxollna,i:togather with "other bf
our slater! States,baa - had repyowjit
heaped ; upon her .on ;accountof t'Mm
bastardly deeds of reckless, JaWMpia
and irresponsive ,;mett;^;?::.-h?ve;: ;|?!sfe
steted thatlno^
realisation . that/ theOarm vof^?^?w:?
attempt at least: would be^made ;t?
prevent Its ruthless and barbaric d<ia
ecraiibnf .that Criminals', would b&
^prosecutedfortb>ir^criiriesr.tMt'ihej
coroners* inquest arid th? UsuiSl^v^dl?clf
would not, be 4he end, bur only the
beghining-r-these haye produced . their
effect^ : andi: as ' a Iresult^tjette*:>;te8b*
dltlons ?have? '-prevailed. : Tt?os?"?^.'?
would:take the lew in their ownhands
.have 'beehimade 'to thmk; th'e'rmaasies,
of our people,?who are- at:heirtx.4sj(?j?.
abiding, have found! hope and bn?M^
agement and the ?worn officers ot
law have.^ haA Ttheiir . grave;
bi?itli?s : brought mowr-closely, home ito
them. ; For more thuri* a year So^tih
Carolina was not disgraced by s> lyncfev,
tag>; no
properly be iso claaaod.. ,
/Had I been able to report to y?u? ;
as I had sincerely hoped to. do,Itljiat; j
our State, since/ your last; session ; at
least, had been spared -the sheme jof,
another lynching--that for.thls pertjd*]
no human life had been lawlessly aud
barbarously irikeri by ari armed mob
I would have, been deeply gratified
at such a. convincing, "evidence ^f the
increased ' reapect^shown for lawyaiDd
or?er. -While; we have every reaajim'
.for encouragement, the recent Miling
bf ?two defenseless negroes: by. ari arm
ed mob ls for every reason to be. de
plored and condemned./ Such outrages
are not only flagrant and inexcusable,
but they inevitably lead; to the d!(s
regard' of -all law, the cheapening i of
humait life and the ' undermining of
bur'-, very civilisation. The ?;'lawt<tM
/element rhust b? .made'tb: realize1the
sanctity of human life; they must ;be
taught the fearful consequences t?nt
follow the blind passions and preju
dices of mobs which "take the law ir.:o
their own,, hands; human life .must
have every. right guaranteed by our
constitution, and lawless and rvklosa
violators^ must be prosecuted witheut
fear or favor to the utmost: limit of
the law?
Aa. long as ?I aril governor, bf the
State I shall use my. . strongest. ?en
deavor, for the suppression arid pan
ishment ? of those who disregard car
laws, especially In the matter of lynch
ings. : I shall not be deterred in the
discharge of this duty, however un
pleasant it may be, believing that in
thus seeking to . uphold .the law, I am
serving the beat and nighest interests
of our State.. I have been actuated
solely by this motive In what I hive
done, and I am -firmly convinced that
one conviction would not only ma
terially decreaae the future record of
the State in respect to lynchings, ti ut
would also encourage the upbuilding
of a better sentiment among our peo
ple. " , .?. . - : ; '
In this connection I am gratified to
report that during the past v year,
wherever necessity arose, the solici
tors and sheriffs have shown every
desire to discharge their full duty and
to cooperate with me in every, way
possible - for the enforcement of law.
This ls as lt should be, and when a
sheriff or other officer, whose duty lt
ia to protect the life of a prisoner in
his custody, allows the mob to take
bim away without a determined off :rt
on his part to prevent them, then,' as
I recommended last year, there should
mm
giver, for the. occupation o? a small
area of laud, to., initiate"tblsprorajp?jg
?rTb^^B. ^?ofit
tion. : ii ^miam??^^L.
andits^scopa :wtz'A&?^1*jMtia?&m:
#oald ba ^roadei&ed-by^
|?#OV? sugg<^tioria/. which I heartily
rearara^ :. ??3^9EH
Tts*.' Gxtnwha ???lauii
sary : to cal?, to ycur ?t
que?tikia' TOised'b.T: the; r
trtoe^c*;-j$S^
tbe'trac^c^ljSQ^^^
they oace.fce?d 3n ?tftywff'"'
of Lancaster and i
remnant ^^gf??ftNtar.
BSjwacres, which ?e*!
foraer?y'.cedie4-to
manner, and ?l?Ut IMO ..were^a?Wifr''
hised l>y.^*1fcatel??},tJ?^
bvt?ln-'.tite#&^
a ;, treaty; for? 'th* ^pUK?ias# ^m?m
{ands. The n^tli^^aa' r*?* ?^f??tfkii
ferSy a*t^n?XRj.-.how?^^. ",
In 'an tac?mplefce?;'???|(i*v?p,
Indians are' now ihre&fchfcrJ
State for the re?3oye!ry?||E^
and havo ?mptoy?a.t?oqnso?'fc
poso 0f?i?eM&gF/t^
bbdy and ? for 'Mwjiffi?m^^
courts In case nb''satisfactory arrange
ment la made.
;'?n Wew?elttJ^
tanc? .bf'h?vjte'ff^iA? ' matter thoroi ,.
teaSitlgated. both for-the purpose" of
rWert?g- ^
defending a suit In caseone te brought,
r recommend ?hat the matter be inves
tigated, and such action talton fcs. tho
factswarrant, . '
You : will find m thc office of . th*'
historical commission -^-vslunbi?^^aM?Tv
cfm?^ml^-4!b??#i:lsmw
Mr. '-Ai ' S?: ;SaUey^?e?r?ta
tbrical cbnii?lsuion.
: It is ?- matter ?f ?:prl^
to our/.Stat?xtnsit. onr-rtvet?, wh?3evcr:
possible, should bo mada?-..navlgftb?b...
We have several-;rivera:^^?wn?ct??i?cpav'b?v';
ntili^d * greatly to the-:-'bene^:;of.;^tho
State at no consldembh expense,: Tho.
general; gbvernmen^:'4n> ? spited <a~:i^ei:.
efforts-of.' bur iirpresrr.tatlves in ^??-??
gresa, has not dealt generously with us
Sri this ?> matt sr/ considering tho
Importance of those streams.
I ibeiierw that you ?hould ?tfd spur,
representatives by taking action upon
this' subject,' going.' to .th? extefit of
memorialise congress to make. the^
necessary appropriation; Such; action -
your r part ? .would ? be of material
stance to obj reprssentatltresiiri ?4>-r
pllshlng the purpose for which they ?
-ve been;strlviog, j '.;'?- ~;'v. ?
Not only are - the- rivers wii?cbi-^?Wt?
through our-Stale;;of. importance tc us,
but Alsebf gresi importance is the 8a~
vannah river, dividing us from Georgia
and cunning thc entire ??ixgth ef^^sjittt:
State. An earnest effort LB being made
by the representatives in congres?>
from Georgia to deepen'tills river, and
otu? representati'res Jmve baen requests
ed. to .owperate. with them. It would r
be greatly to thu mutual benefit of . the ^
interests involv?? io act together Iii the
matter bf secu rms an. appropriation
for the rivers of each S tate, ani I hops
this will be done.
? ; ' Dreiaaige <?f.;. SWaan? .Xeadsw^:';';ru;
An amendment to bur'State, consti
tution provides ;by law for the condemn '
nation of all > lands necessary
proper drainage of the swamp and low
lands of the State, and provides also
fdr. the equi tab! o assessment cf lands
so'drained for the payment of expenses
po incurred. Thia amendment has never
had your attention, and ' millions ' of
acres of fine Unis aro not only render
ed useless ay lack of drainage, but th*y
are also a serious menace to the health
of the Inhabitants, ; .. v
It ls mest probable that the .United
States government will pay an eqja-%
able portion of the necessary- coH bf
c;--'iining these Hinds, and this should be
Booked into. Commiesioner Watson.: in
his report, calls attention to an excel- .
lent plan for dciing this work. This Ss
an Important subject, for mary rea
sons, and I ask that you give lt the ct?
tentlon it deseirves.
Protection ot Fl Bb a?a Oyster Interest*.
These aro Jnt< rests ot decided Impor
tance to our St?rte, and, properly cared
for and. protected, would furnish val-*
sable contributions to our revenue. .
If neglected they will be absolutely de*
