The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1882-12-08
NUMBER7 40.

esafe andspeedy transportation Of persons aud
property have been much increased. lie thinks
that In another year Of prosperity there will DO
lew better roads in the South The Commission
er discusses the various questions arising from
the mutual relations Of the corporations owning
the roads and the people who use them. You
are respectfully referred to his Report for the
views he x2resses. They are entitled to weight
as coming from one whose position has given
him opportunities Of impartial observation, and
whose opinions have been maturely considered.
Many interesting tables accompany the Report.
lhey are, however, incomplete on account Of
some Of the roads failing to make their returns
In proper time. | am unable, therefore, to give
MS desired. n summary view ofthe condition and
working with US of these imp, ,rtant factors in
the life of to-day.
Several important new railroads have been
projected and considerable progress has been
Tade as to the construction Of them. The Edge
Held Trenton and Aiken Railroad Company and
the Atlantic and French Broad have been con-
solidated with certain North Carolina, Tennessee
and Kentucky roads, whose objective point at
present Is lexington, Kentucky, untfer thcstyie
OF the Carolina, Cumberland 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 CEN
tres to the South Atlantic and must prove of in
calculable value to the State twill realize the
dream OF fifty years ago-the direct and ndepen-
dent connection of our commercial metropolis
with the Ohio Valley. Some grading has been
done on the Savannah Valley Railroad from An
derson towards Dorns Mine on the Augusta
and Knoxville Road. On the Spartanburg,
Laurens and Greenwood Road the grading is be-
ing pushed forward; and on the Georgeto wn aud
Lane 8 Road, running from Georgetown to Lanes
on the North Eastern Railroad, work has recent
y been commenced
MILITIA
The organized militia consists Of eiehty.one
companies Of State Volunteer Troops (white).
numbering 4,316 men, and twenty companies Of
National Guard (colored) numbering 1885 men;
aggregate, 5,5Gl. The Adjutant and Inspector
General reports the general condition of the
militia, In every respect, better than when he
inspected them in 1881. The officers moro
conversant with their duties, companies better
drilled, and more general spirit of military
emil usiasm pervales oil ranks. More than one
haif OF the companies Of the Volunteer Troops
would compare very favorably with like organi.
cations of any other State of the Union. This
improvement is to be attributed. in great mea-
sure, to the encouragement given by the liberal
appropriation made by the General Assembly at
ITS last session "to enable companies 10 maintain
their organizations and to increase their eff
cheney"
Many of the old companies have been dis
handed, and perhaps it may be advisable TO still
further continue the system Of wedding out the
inethcient corps, rs the number of men given
above can very well he reduced to the extent Of
one. .hflh, leaving. in round numbers, about
4,ooO men of oil arms-a force amply sufficient
for all purpose.
The appropriation asked for the militia is
$50, 700.
rARDoNs AND CONSULTATIONS.
have deemed it proper within the last year
to exercise Executive clemency in twenty-five
instances, of which ten have been commutati
of sentence and fifteen have been pardons.
In another communication, vii lay before
you, as required by law, full statement of each
case.
CONCLUSION.
The history Of the State for tho last Quarter
OF century has been varied by strongly con-
trasting periods, Just preceding the civil war.
In social and material development we reached
the highest point which had marked our pro-
gress since the English colony landed upon the
banks Of the Ashley. The war llowed with
Its heroic efforts-its disastrous results OF the
accumulation of two centuries of industry,
wherever it had found invest ent in personal
property, there remained the ashes The land
alone was left, encumhered with debt, and with
the capital to work it only to be obtained at
usullous rates. Then came the first period Of
reconstruction the painful struggle for bread
the government Of the State by its baser elements
society slowly adapting itself to its changed
conditions and the native energies of the white
mans blood. under riotous msrule, stubbornly
winning its way to competence and power. In
1916 this unhappy period ended, and to-day
reconstruction is done. The exhibit laid tefore
you Of the affairs Of the State is that of q we'll.
ordered. smooth working and economic govern
ment, and Of u happy and prosperous people
JOHNSON IAGOOD, Governor.