Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1863-12-04

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been found necessary for the accomplish
ment ..f The work. I. recommend tifatah
; assistant be appointed, with a compcteif
| sa|n"v.
To he reports Of the Auditor and the
, Commi!sary General, refer you Tor intor-
nation as to what las been done in procur-
ing and distributing wool anJ cctton cards
am the procurement. Of card making ma
cLines. 1t is much TO >t.e regretted +that
these articles could not have been soaner
procured. .Dut hsve no reason TO doubt
that the agents appoinled 10 procu. . mem
accomplished all that was practica' me-
Learning from General james Jones, Quar-
ternaster General, to whose supelintend
ence have committed the card--making
machines, that one machinist cau manage
ten with ease, ] ordered ono to he made
here. (not yet completely and have pur-
chased nine others, on:;,,ncd from abroa',
six Of which have just arrived. The num-
Der uf " o'l and cotton cards received will
relieve much the wants Of soldiers families
and other needy families; and the cart-.
making machines. | trust, will enable me
before Il great while 10 materially reduce
the price. The mode Of distributing them,
according 10 representation, is NOT under
existing circumstances just. II would
be far more so to distribute them accor-
ding to the actual wants Of all the dis
,rics, to be determined by the present pop
.u!a,ion.
, transmit herewith copies of commit
citizens, upon the snhect Of Government
SI, E,y
supplies as the State may need for her own
service. The Confederate Government
cannot, at all times, so promptly as they
may wish. furnish such things as the army
may need; and by adopting one or both
OF the schemes suggested, tho State will be
in q condition TO procure for herself or fur.
nish to Tic troops such articles at much less
cost tl.an NV. s.
The Coniederata Government has cx-
pressed a willingness 10 take off the hands
Of the State the salpe,re plantation and
her interest in the lead mine at cost and
charges, but not the State works. did
not dccm it advisable 10 transfer the LEAST
important and expensive part Of the public
works-re,aining the Others. The work.
ing Of The lead jm:rc I recommend to be
abandoned. as it cannot, according to tie
ropc:s Of DR.. LeJcs.c, herewith commun::.::
Gated, be made profitable. The saltpctre
p'a:itati III. it is believed, can be made to
pny we'll. and is a very interesting expert
ment. The advantages Of the State Works
do Tot appear TO be-. SO far, commensua at.
with the expenditures. 1t is believed, how
ever, that they will in future be profitable,
If the expenses Of procuring coal and coke,
and transporting iron, do not prevent it..
Ii is u grave question for your consdera-
ton, in the present state Of the country,
whether it would not be better nov 10
change the locality of the works, placing
them at Columbia, on the canal, or near
the iron mines, at some place where the
machinery may be run by water: And
here | recommend TO your consideration
the question Of how far it may not be de-;
s'r'le for the State to do something to-
wards establishing more direct eommupi-
cation with the Deep River coal mines. If
these difficulties could be overcome, the in
formation have received on 8 recent visit
to the works. from the intelligent superir:
tendcnt and the heads Of the different de-
partmcnts, satisfies me they will be prof4ta-
bic. 1t is q matter OF great importance to-
the State to have it in future in her own
power to manufacture the implements of
war which she may need.
In accordance with your resolution,
contracted for the manufacture OF 1000
Morsc's carbines. A part of them have
been completed, and regard them the
best cavalry weapon in use. The compen-
sation to Col. Morse has not been deter
mined upon, and recommend this matter
10 your consideration as something more
than the mere value Of the article manu-.
factured it may be thought proper TO- al
low. ST.
Five Of Georges revolving cannon have
been constructed, under your resolution,
ana 'psp .c'td and approved by the ord,
nance officer Of the State, whose report,
together with reports furnished.by General
Hampton and Captain Thomas, as to the
utility OF the arm, are herewith communi-
Gated. The remaining two will be COM
peted by Capt. George at an early day.
In order to have them fully tested, L sent
one to Gen. Beauregard, and another I:
Delivered to Gen. Hampton; to be carried.
to Virginia, where it can be tested in the
field. He proposed to replace it with, an~
other, which he has ordered to be con-.
structed. Two others I have, within the
last few days, sent to Gen. Beauregard,- lat
his request, he thinking them. useful at
Charleston. The fifth Is at the Arsenal,
for the inspection of the, military com
mittees. IJefer you, for further intorma-
tion on these subjects, to tile report Of Tic
ordnance officer, herewith communicable.
! attend, 10 July last, the annual exami..
nation cf the deaf and dumb, ut tie Cedar
spr ngs Asylum. committed this inslitu.
ton to the fostering care Of the State. No
one who has, not attended the examinations
can form any adequte estimate ofsthe hap
p,ress imparted to the unfortunate pupils
2t :uu school bv their education. - j a."