Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-12-07

unfortunate youth of the State is located at
Cedar Springs in Spartanburg county, and
has for years been in successful operation.
During the past year it has had sxty-two pu-
pills in attendance. I would ask your atten-
tion to the interesting report OF the superln-
tendent, and particularly his recommendation
that provision be made for the education OF
colored deaf and dumb and blind children.
The suggestion is made for the establishment
of a separate department for this class of pu-
pills, under the same general management rs
that for whites, but with it's own subordinate
officers and teachers. This arrangement has
been adopted in most of the Southern States,
and is in accord with the general educational
system of this State in the public schools and
in the University
The commissioners of the institution will
ask for an appropriation of Sl2,35O, which
includes the expenses of establishing the pro-
posed colored department.
RAILROADS.
The railroad commissioner reports that his
inspections of the railroads last year have been
highly satisfactory to him. Many and exten-
sive improvements are noted, and the faclll-
| ties for the safe and speedy transportation
Of persons and property have been much IN:
creased lie thinks that in another year of
| the South. The commissioner discusses tile
various questions arising from the mutual re-
lations of the corporations owning the roads
and the people who use them. You are re-
spectfully referred to his report for the views
he expresses. They are entitled to weight as
coming from one whose position has given him
opportunity of impartial observation, and
whose opinions have been maturely con-
sidered. Many interesting tables accompany
| the report. They are, however, incomplete on
account of some of the roads failing to make
their returns in the proper time. am una
BILE, therefore, to give, as desired, summa-
ry view of the condition and working with us
Of these important factors in the life of to-
day.
Several important new railroads have been
projected and considerable progress has been
made towards the construction of them. The
Edge(eld, Trenton and Aiken Railroad Com
pany and the Atlantic and French Broad have
consolidated with certain North Carolina,
Tennessee and Kentucky roads, whose OBJ
jective point at present is Lexington, Ken
tucky, under the style of the Carolina, Cum
berland Gap and Chicago Railroad Company.
The organization has been perfected and
contract has been entered into for rapidly
pushing the construction. Fifty odd miles
of the road have already been graded in South
Carolina. When completed it will be much
the shortest line from the northwestern trade
centres to the South Atlantic, and must prove
of incalculable value to the State. 1t will
realize the dream of fifty years ago-the direct
and independent connection OF our CONNER
cial metropolis with tie Ohio Valley.
Some grading has been also done on the
Savannah Valley Railroad from Anderson to-
wards Dorne's Mine on the Augusta and
Knoxville Road. On the Spartanburg, Lau-
rens and Greenville Road the grading is being
pushed forward and on the Georgetown and
Lanes Road running from Georgetown to
Lanes on the Northeastern Railroad, work
has recently been commenced.
MILITIA
The organized militia consists of eighty-one
companies of State Volunteer troops, (white,)
numbering 4,376 men, and twenty companies
of National Guard, (cOlored, numbering ,lS5
men aggregate 1851. The adjutant and i'll
spector-general reports the general condition
of the militia, in every respect, better than
when he inspected them in 1881. The officers
are more conversant with their duties, compa-
MES better drilled, and more general spirit
of military enthusiasm pervades all ranks.
More than one-half of the companies Of the
Volunteer Troops would compare very fayora-
bly, with like organizations of any other State
of the Union. This improvement is to be at
tributed in great measure to the encourage
ment given by the liberal appropriation made
by the General Assembly at itslast session ''to
enable companies to maintain their organiZa-
tions and to increase their efficiency"
Many of the old companies have been dis
banded and perhaps it may be advisable to
still further continue the system of wedding
out the inefficient corps, as the number OF men
given above can very well be reduced to the
extent of one-ffth, leaving in round numbers,
about 4, 600 men of all arms-a force amply
sufficient for all purposes.
The appropriation asked for the militia is
800, 700.
PARDONS AND COMPUTATIONS.
1 have deemed, it proper within the last year
to exercise executive clemency in twenty-five
instances, of which ten have been commuta-
tions of sentence and fifteen have been par
dOns.
In another communication I will lay before
you, as required by law, a full statement OF
each case.
CONCLUSION.
The history of the State for the last quarter
of century has been varied by strongly con-
trasting periods. Just preceding the civil war,
in social and material development, we wereached
the highest point which had marked our pro-
RreSS since CIle lIllSllSll COlOlly ltllueu uPo tIc
banks of the Ashley The war followed with
its heroic efforts-its disastrous results. Of
the accumulation of two centuries of industry,
wherever it had found investment in personal
property, there remained the ashes The land
alone was left, encumbered with debt, and
with the capital to work it only to be obtained
at usIriOus rates. Then came the first period
of reconstruction the painful struggle for
bread the government of the State by its ba-
ser elements; society slowly adapting itself to
it's changed conditions, and the native energies
of the white mans blood, under riotOus mis-
rule, stubbornly winning it's way to compe..
tence and power. In 1876 this unhappy period
ended, and to-day reconstruction is done:
The exhibit laid before you of the affairs of
the State is that of a well-ordered, smooth
working and economic government, and hap
py and prosperous people.
JOHNSON HAGOOD, Governor.
Two SENATE SEATS.-The attention Of
politicians of both parties is now being direct
ed to the Senatorial elections in Nebraska and
Colorado, where it is possible some unexpect-