The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-12-02

formed by special assistant of the
agricultural bureau.
The amount ofphosphate rock mined
and shipped for the nine months end
ing Both of September last, is 53.054
tons, upon which the State has received
a royalty Of s53,054.
AS to the concurrent jurisdiction of
the commissioner and the comptroller
general over the phosphate mines,
&c, I ask your consideration of the
matter as explained by these officers,
and that you make such amendments
as you may in your wisdom think best.
The report of the commissioner also
includes the report of the chemist to the
department, DR.. Charles U. Shepard,
Jr., and the report of Mr.. E. l.. Roche,
special assistant.
A report of the fish commissioner,
made by c. j. Huske, a practical pisci.
culturist, who has charge of that de-
partment, is included with the reports.
1 ask favorable consideration of this
subject, as am satisfied the State will be
amply repaid for the small outlaysmade.
With facilities for Matching fish eggs and
the ready cooperation which is given us
by the United States fish commissioners
it will not be long before large increase
of fish will be seen in our waters.
1t is not an untried experiment. The
fish commissioners of New Hampshire
report, "as the results of artificial breed
ing the price of shad in the New York
market had fallen from SIS to So per
hundred, and fishermen complained that
fish were so plenty they were unable to
get fair pay for the labor of taking them,
and that poor man could now buy as
good fish for shilling, or twenty-five
cents, as he could few years ago for a
dollar"
The following is the number of fish dis
tributed in our waters: California sal
mon 10000, Land lock salmon $4,000,
sbad 100000, California trout $500.
I also call your attention to the very
important subject of immigration en-
braced in the commissioners report. A
subject of so much Importance will, am
sure, receive the consideration it de-
serves. You might we'll consider wheth-
er a portion of the forfeited lands could
not be pro6tably disposed of in settling
Immigrants.
STOCK LAW.
While this law would not be accepta-
BILE, and perhaps would not be to the
interest of a majority of the. citizens of
some of the counties of the State, yet /
am satisfied that it will prove a great
blessing in those counties where it is now
of force. Besides the time which is say
ed from so much fence building and re-
pairing, and which may be applied to
improvements generally, the soil will
naturally improve much faster by the
vegetation which grows, dies and shades
the land. Thousands of acres which,
before the law was passed, were
almost valueless, for the want of timber
to fence against stock, are being brought
into cultivation and use.
PUBLIC ROADS.
For more than half century the at
tention of the members of the General
Assembly of this State has been repeat.
edl5' called to the bad condition of our
public highways. The difficulty with
most of the roads, especially in the billy
portion of the State, is that they have
been made with no idea as to grades,
but seem to have been located in the
cowpaths or Indian trails, straight up
and down the hills. The consequence is
that, as time progresses, such roads are
hecnminp worse and more difficult to keep
in order.
I think it would be better if many of
the old roads were abandoned, and new
ones located by competent engineers.
There is class of convicts which should
be worked on the roads. hope you will
mature plan which will show that there
is prospect of our having good roads at
some time, even ifin the future.
MILITIA.
1t is the most important function of
Government to preserve the peace and
guarantee under the laws the rights Of
person and property. In this State the
military is held in subordination to the
civil authority, but in all we'll regulated
Governments the civil may become too
weak to repress disturbance. Consider
the riots in the great State of Pennsylva-
MIA 6. few years ago, where it became
necessary to call on the militia. / would
recommend that you give encouragement
to the volunteer militia. Such organi-
cations take pride in their efficiency,
while the militiamen who muster simply
because the law requires it, would be an
awkward squad when service was re-
quired.
But it is too much to expect young
men to lose their time and pay all the
expenses of their organization. The
State should give some assistance, and I
commend the matter to your favorable
consideration.
The Centennial celebration of the bat
tie of Kings Mountain was entirely sue
cessful and reflects great credit upon
those patriotic citizens who originated
and conducted it. Many citizens from
our sister States, especially North Caro-.
lima, Virginia and Tennessee, we're pres
ent to show their appreciation of the i'm.
portance of the event. The victory won
at the battle of Kings Mountain reanima
ted the dropping spirits of the patriots Of
the country, who on the 18th January 1881,
achieved under Gen. Morgan another
glorious victory at the battle of Cowpens.
This battle was, in the language of the
distinguished historian Bancroft, the
first chain of events that led to the
surrender of CORVALLIS and the success
full termination OF the war for American
independence. 1t is proposed to COM
memorate the centennial of this battle
in an appropriate manner, and the
President of the United States, the
Governors, and citizens generally, of the
old thirteen States have been invited to
cooperate. J. hope you will give the
matter q favorable consideration.
COMMISSIONERS AND MANAGERS OF
ELECTION.
According to law, it is the duty of the
Governor to appoint commissioners of
election, "at least sixty days prior to any