The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1881-12-01
JOB PRINTING

! 'eVlSiOn OF the lun:;cy laws his SuS-
.estions are entitled to the weight Of
.:oning from one who has made the
subject study, and has excited
much ability in the discharge of his
| ,pecial duties.
The Asylum under its present
management, in securing all that per-
taius to its hene6cent objects, 7 am
happy to believe, compares fayorably
With s!n,iar intitutions elsewhere.
DEPARTMENT or AGRICULTURE.
The lately instituted Department of
agriculture has during the past year
nodcrlakeu very fully the duties in
>trusted to it, aud gives promise Of
taking place il the Development Of
'ne State beyond what was anticl-
pated when it was established. The
report Of the Commissioner, to be
submitted to you, exhibits the extent
If the duties imposed by him, and the
zeal with which they have been dis
charged. l have myself had occasion
to observe the intelligent and earnest
fort given by the Board to their
Sork. No part of the work of this
Department is more worthy of notice
i"au that devoted to the promotion Of
immigration. In the short time since
this effort was iDaugurated 534 immi-
grants have been introduced into and
settled in the State; but more than
this, the fact has been established
that with a continuance Of the same
: fort the amount of this desirable ad-
ditiOu to cur population is limited on
y by the capacity of the State to alb
sOrb it. So far the Immigrants have
been chiefly of the peasant class;
hardy, Intelligent aod thrifty laborers
tut the class with more or less capi-
tai may soon be expected to follow;
and, if our people desire it, We can
soon witness the diversion into our
midst of a part of that stream of im-
migration which has, so rapidly and
wonderfully enriched other portions of
the Union. I most cordially com
mead this Department to your foster
ing care.
RAILROADS.
The Railroad Commissioner reports
an increase of the net income Of the
railroads of the State during tie past
year, and an improvement of their
general condition. All Of those which
were iu the hands of receivers, except
the South Carolina Road, have been
sold, and the purchasing companies
permanently organized. There is com
plaiut of excessive freight charges Oh
some of the leading roads. The At
torney General holding that he is not
rs such counsel for the Railroad Cou-
missioner, and there being no fund
provided for the employment Of coun-
sci, the Commissioner has been unable
70 test BY suit in the Courts alleged
violations Of the law and Of their
charters by the roads. To secure
reasonable charters he recommends
Board of three Commissioners with
power to regulate freight and passen-
ger tariff and that it either be made
the duty of the Attorney General and
Solicitors to represent the Board, or
that an adequate fund be provided for
the employment of counsel. The
Commissioner has discharged the du-
ties of inspection required of him.
He also states the gratifying fact that
10 the last three years no passenger
has lost his life through the fault of
any railroad in the State. There is,
he thinks, much room for improve
| ment of depots at the important sta
tions along the roads, and at the city
of Columbia, where it is recommended
that the Legislature require Union
Passenger Depot to be constructed.
,Iany of the railroads of the State
have passed under the control of the
Richmond and Danville Combination.
The Commissioner thinks that in some
respects such consultations of inter-
est are beneficial; but in this case the
controlling power being in another
State, it is highly important that the
Legislature shall provide through
| Board or otherwise for regulation of
| freight and passenger tariffs which
will protect the local patrons of the
| roads in this State.
EDUCATION.
The report Of the Superintendent of
| Education shows the condition of the
| public school system and the progress
iaade during the last year in pro-
viGiug educational facilities for the
| masses. There were in attendance on
the public schools 6l,339 white, and
72,ll9 colored pupils; making total
Of l3S,45S. There we're 3,O57 schools
in operation and 3,249 teachers en-
ployed. The average length of the
session was 35 months. Full reports
of the school fund have not been re-
ceived; but it is thought, from
careful estimates, that it will be
about $4,000. The increased ia
cilities for education arc shown in the
fact that the number of schools estab-
lished during the gear was greater by
81 than at the time Of the last report,
and the number of teachers by
IS. The average length of the ses-
sion shows slight increase over that
! of former years. The educational
facilities of this State are not yet CON-
pIete; but a comparison with other
States shows that, in this respect,
South Carolins is not behind most Of
! her sister States of the South.
The report of the State Superin-
| .o.lo.A ,ook,;,o c,,ll e%otoropkc 6F