Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-08-19

MACON August 17-Railroad matters, the
boom in building, the doings of the Legisla-
ture, short crops and the critical condition Of
the President. all conspire to keep the popular
pulse ct fever heat in this community.
At present, Mr.. Gar1eld's illness is the all
absorbing topic, and earnest are the prayers
that ascend from every pulpit in his behalf.
and deep and heartfelt the sympathy displayed
as to the final result by all classes of the peo-
pie. His death at this crisis would be a terri
BILE national calamity, and shake to its centre
the whole structure Of the Republican organi-
zation. The access to power Of Arthur and
Conlxling would be humiiating spectacle in
deed to the whole country and tend no little per-
haps to impair confidence in American securi-
ties. And what is the moral Of the story? Simp-
ly this: That no party. for the sake of mere
availability, can AFFORD to nominate candidates
TO important places OF trust who are wanting
in character and sterling Integrity. Mr.. Arthur
had been convicted of malfeaSance in office and
ANONYMOUSLY driven into retirement by the
last Republican administration, and yet the
same party, to its eternal disgrace in order TO
conc1liate its representatives in New York,
placed him in nomination, and actually ele-
waited that individual to the second position in
therefore, of President Garfield will place at
the head OF the American Government a man
who is regarded by millions OF his countrymen
as little less than thief. What comment
upon universal suffrage
Second only in Importance to the Presidents
condition is the fight of the Railroad Commits
sioners in the General Assembly. That body,
bolstered up by the insane prejudice against
railroads which has taken fast hold of the
average legislators, has receded apparently
from its former moderate position, and now
contends with might and main for every jot
and little of the abnormal and dangerous pre-
TOQatlVnG nv ~ -QHv
railroad law. The result is in doubt, desrite the
sledge hammer blows of Senator Brown. and
the mastery and convincing argument of Col.
Hatnes. OF the Savannah, Florida and Western
Railway. What pity that the people should
quarrel at this late day with those grand inter
nal Improvement enterprises which have
trebled the taxable values of the State, de-
veloped the resources and indefinitely increas-
ed the wealth of her citizens. As often hither-
to expressed. the writer favors Railway Com
mission which shall prevent all local discrimi-
nations, and decide between the rights of pri
vate parties and those of the several corpora
tons which operate under charters from the
Commonwealth But no statute should de-
prive individuals or organized companies of
the 1nelienable right OF regulating their own
stitution
The temperance question and the peniten-
tlary reforms seem to have been decided for
the present, by the failure to obtain consttu-
tional majority for either measure. It may
well be doubted, on the whole. whether the
latter system can be improved upon and so
averSe are the people to class legislation and
sumptuarY laws, that a general local option
act Is the very best that could he looked for
by the advocates of prohibition" And
even this appears to be doubtful There
seems to be general disposition to let the
mater remain as at present, giving to each
county, under certain conditions, the right to
settle the liquor question by popular election.
In exciting questions of this character the bet
ter policy is to make haste slowly" for fear
or a disastrous reaction.
The amount of building going on in this city
is without precedent. 1t includes magnificent
stores six stories in height. palatial dwellings
and humble structures of all sizes. OF late an
admirable system of water works has been put
IN successful operation also, and new and
extensive ice factory. Our cotton mills. too.
are doing tremendous business. and their
number will probably be augmented
The Macon and Brunswick Railroad extern
sion 10 Atlanta and thence to Rome is now
placed beyond peradventure The former has
been located on the west side of the Ocmulgee
and will not exceed ninety-three miles in
length. 1t will be run cheek BY jole with the
Central. and almost in sound Of its whistle
Yet SO great will be the volume of
through freights from the West
and the local business increases so
rapidly that the most intelligent railroad ex.
perts are confident that both lines will have all
they can do. The very items Of coal and iron
from Alabama will furnish considerable reve-
nue. to the new extension.
1t is somewhat remarkable that two Of the
twenty five members in the House who voted
against the Cole application for the charter of
q ROAD from Atlanta to Rome. The third.
Speaker Bacon, was announced as in favor of
the measure, sin common with an immense ma
lority of his fellow citizens of this county and
region.
local issue Of quite en- exciting nature is
just now disturbing the serenity Of our COM
munity. This is. whether Messrs. Cole & Co.
shall be per mitted to build the Macon and
brunswick extension on the line of the river
front OF Rose Hill Cemetery. AS none Of the
sacred monuments of the dead will be dis
turhed, and the company promises to protect
and beautify that portion Of the cemetery, the
City Council and very large majority of citi-
zens favor the project upon the payment by
the road OF a reasonable annual rental for the
ground occupied by its track There is some
talk of an injunction in the premises but it is
believed that the effort will prove unsuccess-
fuL BY this outlet egress and ingress into the
city can be had with a grade of twenty feet
only, thus obviating the circutous route and
heavy ascent on the Central Railroad. which
requires two locomotives to propel a loaded
train Tor the first three miles. Assurances have
been given that the owners Of the road will do
all that is graceful and liberal In the premises
The writer a short time since paid a visit to
Ghe frult farm of w. W. Thompson. Esq, in
Lee county. Mr.. Thompson is extensively en-
gagged In frultgfowing both in Georgia and
Florida. He abandoned large milling bust
ness for that purpose, and owns an orange
grove in the latter State of 800 trees which
are alternated with 600 LIE Conte pear stocks.
In addition, he is the fortunate possessor of
two thirds of the famous Wells grove of LIE
Conte pears, one mile from Townsville, Ga.
Last year In the early part Of the season, Mr..
Thompsen's pears sold at the North for five
dollars per crate Of three pecks each. and
later on at two dollars and fifty cents.
The trees will bear from the cutting four
years after taking root. The diameter Of each
rootlet increases one inch per annum.
AT the age or ten years an average of four
teen bushels to the tree may be relied upon.
a ah ha MIN bad
full maturity, and will safely bear transporta-
ton 30 Europe
The freight to New York is fifty cents per
crate. Last year Mr. L. Varnedoe of Thomas
ville netted two hundred and ten dollars
upon ten trees Of ten years. growth 1t is
a curious fact that the LIE Conte pear proves
worthless when grated upon any other stock.
The engrafted scion grows far more rapidly
than the rooted tree, and eventually overtcps
II and breaks Off from its superior weight and
luxurfance. Mr.. Thompson, in the beginning
or the present year. purchased thirty acres OF
good pine land In the environs of Smithville,
Georgia, and just in the rear of the we'll known
johnson Hotel, at thirty dollars per acre. At
much pains he has drained and grubbed up the
HghtWood stumps on this tract. and after a
thorough breaking. set out 100 LeConte
pears, all rooted and as large as mans finger
His plan is to manure well in the hole with
rich compost at the start, which gives the
tree good impetus, and repeat the operation
once in two years to hasten the bearing and
production. On good soil no more enrIching
Will be required, but peas may be sown to ad-
vantage between the trees and plowed under
The trees should be set in rows twenty. five feet
each way After the holes had been dug and
prepared two hands can set out as many as
h'e hundred rootlets per day. The manure,
however. must be on the spot
The compost used by NJ. Thompson was
made Of alternate layers of the ashes of cot.
ton seed hulis, pure, unktlled cotton seed, land
plaster, salt and hot manure The pile was
twenty feet square, five feet high, and cost
$780,
Mr.. Thompson intends to enlarge his pear
farm, and is confident of reaping golden results
from bis enterprise.
Mower Georgia and Florida the LeConte pear
never blights, is the only variety that can be
from the cutting, grows off rapidly
and vigorously, bears in four years, and COM
Ing into market far in advance Of the Northern
pear, commands almost fabulous prices in our
great cities.
The writer has pencilled this article in the |
hope that Georgia and Florida fruit growers
will give h. ed to its statements and lose no |
time in setting out plantations of the Sand or |