The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-11-25

fh3AG great thoronghfnye, and open COM
munfcation between the West and the
Southern sea-board. Every e6Srs has
been made by the Presideris, General j.
w Harrison, and other gentlemen inte.
rested In the result, bit without sec1r-
Ing the assistance hoped for. We were,
therefore, left to our own resources. Be-
lieving that the interests of the people
OF the State demanded the completion of
the road ut rs early day as practicable,
the company concluded to advertise for
bids for its construction. On the Sth of
July last, the bids received we're opened,
and the contract awarded to Messrs.
Cresswell & Co. A new survey, and an
estimate of the cost of the work, had,
previous to that notice, been made by
the present engineer. 1t was then ascer-
tanned that the great increase of the cost
OF such work over tho original estimates,
made it apparent that the 1000, 600 of
first mortgage bonds provided for fell
far short of the means necessary to COM
plete it, and that it would require about
81. 000, 600 to put the rond in running
order. One of two plans should be
adopted ut once. The first is to abandon
the whole scheme of n direct railroad
route to the West, lose the three millions
of money invested by the State, the city
of Charleston and private individuals;
repeal the Act of September, 1868, where
by 81. 600, 600 more of bonds guaran teed
by the State would be sunk and made
valueless, or assist the company in their
efforts to complete the work by such
means rs would be valuable to them, and
Mt the same time not iDj nre the credit Of
the State. This tho committee author
lied to mako q contract for the prosccu-
tion of the work believed could he done
by an endorsement of the first mortgage
bonds of the road by the State to IN
amount sufficient to complete and put the
road in running order.
Up to the present time, there haze
been purchased in the several Counties,
for the purpose of the land commission,
49, 900 acres of land, which is now in
process OF survey and division into tracts
of eligible size for purchasers and occu-
pants.
ln accordance with the joint resolution
to provide for the fitting MP of certain
portions of tho new State House, I ad-
vertised for proposals for the execu-
tlon OF the work in the newspapers of
this city and Charleston. Mr.. james M.
Allen, being the lowest bidder, was
awarded the contract. Of the manner
IN which it has been executed, it is
unnecessary for ME to speak You are
surrounded by his work. which is it's own
eulogium.
L transmit for your consideration the
annual report of the Regents of the Lu-
natic Asylum. accompanied by the re-
ports of DIR. j. w. Parker. the Superin-
tendent and Physician, and of John
Waties, Esq, the Treasurer of the insti-
tuition. Tho report Of DR.. Parker shows
that, ut the commencement of the year.
the number of patients was 2O4, to which
have been added during the year 81,
making in all 29S. From this number,
ga have been discharged, leaving 234.
The Treasurer's statement shows that
the receipts during the year,have been
S48, 24465, and the expenditures S4S,-
395 56. being nn excess of expenditure
of Sl54. 81. The report of the condition
OF the asylum is very satisfactory, and
will compare favorably with that of any
similar institution in the country. DR..
Parker, the Superintendent, has efficient
ly discharged the duties of his Office for
upwards of thirty-three years, and as
there Is some misapprehension OH the
subject, 1T is but Justice to say, that while
he has administered the duties of many
Offices connected with the asylum, he has
WY ASSOiFCA VIC pertain
ing to his own, that OF Superintendent
and Physician.
The asylum for the education of the
deaf. dumb and blind, at Cedar Springs,
Spartanburg County, has been recently
re organized.
The Superintendent of the Penitentia-
ry states that on taking charge of the in
stitution on the 23d of January last, he
receipted for POI prisoners. There have
been received since 3O1; re.capturcd 4;
making an aggregate of SOC. There have
been discharged on expiration of SEN
tence, 81; died, g.; pardoned, 1856; es-
capped, 16; total, Oil; leaving in confine-
ment. 295. The total amount expended
was S61, ,522. so; and the amount OF work
executed, as estimated at contract price,
and of materials and stores on hand,
amounts to $93, CTS. 60, leaving balance
to the credit of tho institution of $32,-
1919.
1t is related OF the Emperor Severus,
(once colored freedman in the Roman
army, but whose energy, talents and
valor, had placed him at its head, that
during an invasion of Britain, he was
arrested in his march by an attack OF i'll
ness. which IL xuoo oonn lr,oxy,, ,uorlf