Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-02-14

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The Committee on Mines, Mining and
Manufacturing reported a general bill under
which all charters must be granted. The
bill provided that no exclusive grants should
be given to any party. except upon conditions
that the books for taking stock in any COM
pany ehould be open certain length Of time
to all the oitizens, Of the State, aud that
before entering upon the work of digging tho
phosphatee, the company asking such priviI
lege should give bond to half the amount of
the capital invested for the faithful carrying
out the terms of their charter. and an adds
tional bond of fifty thousand dollars for the due
and prompt payment Of tho royalty due the
State upon each ton the company may dig.
This bill, with another asking for charter
according to the terms of tho first, occupied
about two days in the discussion Of them.
This is of 80 great Importance to tho State
and so little understood by majority Of
members, and has beon such source of freud
upon the State heretofore, that it always
elicits. great discussion. Many members are
so little acquainted with the nature and
extent Of Our phosphate deposits, and
the character of the h6n sticking charters to
comrhnes, that they do not feel prepared to
act intelligently Ia the promises All the
bills proposed thus fur have bepn killed Mr..
Memminger, of Charleston, introduced reso
luton in which he made the suggestion that
the phosphate territory of tho State bo sur
veyod and sold in lots to The highest bidder,
ut the same timo requiring tho payment Of
royalty on tho ton. The resolution and bilis
were referred to special committee. 1t is
said that if these phosphate deposits are
properly managed, that tho revenuo derived
from them will all but defray the expenses of
the State Government. Such an interest
needs careful attention, and should he
thoroughly understood before acted upon by
the Legislature.
Tho consideration of the concurrent roso
luton to eeot Judges has been mado the
special order in the Senate for Tuesday next.
The Senate has no disposition to hurry up
this matter. The delay has been caused with
the view to break down certain candidates
whom majority in the Senate do not desire
to see elected. The House has sent several
resolutions to tho Senate for concurrence, but
30 fur there has been no agreement. This
delay we think unwise and will incur very
heavy expense ncedlcssly in some of the
arc soon to DO held again. The expense Of
the attendance OF jurors and witnesses will
DO grcat and this should bo avoided. if posi-,
BILE, by speedy election of the judges
The joint resolution relative to convict
labor on tho Blue Ridge Railroad has passed
throe readings in tho House and ordered to be
sent to tho Senate. l think that there is no
doubt but that it will pass tho Senate and
become law. The Governor is authorized
undor the resolution to let any reliable com.
pany have two hundred able bodied conviots
IN xvork nnon thu rnnd nm anct, }o,.,,o 90 h.
may think aoise and proper. If our pc ,ple
desire the completion Of this great road is it
not possible to got capital enough in the State
to work these people upon the road2 would
be glad 10 hear it discussed in tho columns
of the COURIER. Mr.. Wanner, Of our county
while here last week introduced in the State
Grange resolutions upon tho subject, urging
tho Genoral Assembly to give this labor to
the road and feed it while working there
The resolutions were adopted aud sent by the
Grange Gs memorial to tho General Assem-
bly,, which were presented on Friday last and
referred to tho Committee on Railroads. We
wish that the Assembly couid tako tho same
view Of it tho Grange dncs. then we might
hope chat the road would soon be com plotted
The annual meeting Of tlso State Grange
was held in Parkor's Hall Of this city from,
the 5th to Friday. tho 8th Mr.. Wanner was
the only delegate from Ocnnee lie was here
ls he Is aC n"he Kcctly alVo 10 eVerv interest
OF our county and of tho State. The meeting
of the Grange was very well attended from
all parts Of the State, and those in attendance
enjoyed the visit to Columbia very much.
'Ehe number Of delegates from all parts ni
the Stnte was about lbs | did nut attend
tho meetings Of the Grange on account of
want of time, but hear that the proceedings
we're interesting.
"he members arc getting very restless herc
and think that after the election of the
Judges and the settlements of the bord
question that VIC will have speedy adjourn
ment. think it possible that we mny 20,
Oft by tho goth Of this m,nth. or ut the
larthest, by the 25th Yours. &c. V.