Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-04-20
MUCH ADO ABOUT MACON.
EXTRAVAGANCE IN THE IVES.
LEYAN COLLEGE FUND.

No Report yet Submitted, but no Grim .
inal Expenditure Hinted at-Emberz
from the Firemen's Tournament =
Truck Farmers Frightened-ClOsing OF
the Schools-PrattIe About Politics.
| MACON, April live have been hav4
ing abundant rains, with cold winds.
keeping vegetation back, and frightening
our farmers and truck growers greatly.
On yesterday there was a strong north.
west wind blowing almost ineessantlv.
The dust was exceedingly annoying, not
withstanding the heavy rain the night be-
fore.
The tiremen'S tournament was an im-
posing as we'll as a very interesting occa-
sion. People were here from almost every
part of the State, and everybody seemed
to enter into the spirit of the contest.
Each one had their favOrite company
selected, and each seemed confident that
their favorite would win. The running
was good and the scores were far above
the average in firemanic contests. and
While the contest brought disappointment
to many, there was no i'll feeling indulged
in against those who had been more for
tunate. The visitors seemed to enjoy the
had done their best, and while they eX-
pected large crowd, there were more
than they had counted On-nOt fireman.
but invited guests-at the banquet table,
and fear some one was neglected from a
distance.
Macon has never appreciated the adj
Vantages of large gatherings like other
cities. While they admit this fact they lay
the larger blame upon the railroads cen
tering here. Outside Of State Fair Occa.
sions, excursions or cheap rates are never
offered to the public to induce them to
visit the Central City. The crowd on yes
terday was the largest we have had since
the last State Fair. A more generous
policy by the railroads, and more effort
upon the part of the citizens to create op-
portunity for the people to visit Macon,
and we Will have many gatherings that
will equal the crowd of yesterday.
| heard two or three prominent citizens
talking on yesterday about the propriety
OF nremanlc tests, and concluding with
the prophecy that this one would be the
last, as paid fire department would be
cheaper and just as efficient as the vOlun-
teer system. OF the truth OF this propo-
sitiOn know nothing.
Before leaving this question | promised
to correct an error in the published list of
members of the Waver Company from
Savannah. 1t is not Tom Coffee who was
here, but Mr.. Z. j. Coffee. The Waivers
made fine appearance, and their visit
was greatly appreciated by our firemen.
1t seems that all the premiums were
taken by Macon tiremen-bOth for the best
and for the worst running. Young Ame-
rica No. wore their laurels gracefully.
Our public schools will be closed on the
first of June, a half month earlier than
was first determined, because of the scar
city of the funds necessary to prOlong
the session. They are doing a grand
work for Macon, and reflect credit upon
the Board of Education and the painstak-
ing superintendent, Prof. b. NJ. Zettler.
formerly of Savannah. A remarkable CO.
incident is the fact that every grammer
school in the city is presided over by a
lady principal instead of male teacher,
which has uniformly been the custom
here. There seems to be no difference as
to the progress of the scholars since this
change has been made. The only ques-
tionable point in the whole transaction is.
that they don't pay the lady teachers the
same salaries they did the male for per
forming the same duties, and doing them
as well, the board themselves being Judges.
This, however, is question that will have
to be settled elsewhere.
The Ladies' Memorial Society have
about completed their arrangements for
the observance of Memorial day on the
AOtu iIols COls 1HOult5 1dIucIndn mas
consented to deliver the address ON the
occasion. 1t will be well done.
The committee of investigation Of the
Wesleyan Female College has never vet
submitted a report. There has no doubt
been eXtravagant but not criminal eX-
penditure of the funds.
The political waters are subsiding and
a general qualification is expressed at the
selection of the nominee for Governor.
OF course, we all felt disappointed that
Major Bacon was not nominated; but, as.
he could not be, there is an enthusiastic
acceptance of Hon. II. ID. Mcdaniel, and
none are more hearty in their indOrse-
ment than Major Bacon himself.
We are to have another election after
that for Governor, on the question OF
fence or no fence, which comes Off on May
Sd. The "no fence" law will ere long be
All absolute necessity in some parts Of the
county, and it is thought that the sober
second thought of those who have been
it will now yield, and we shall
have the stock law.
Our city is full of returning Northern
tourists who have spent the winter i'm
Florida. Some of them are looking about
for investments. JACK PLANE.