The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1883-12-06

crops were proportionatey decreased.
The Commissioners is Of opinion that the
farming interests of the State are on
sounder financial basis than at the be.
ginning of last year, owing chiefly to the
large crops Of 1882 and the consequent
" reduced cost Of producing the crops Of
1888.
| THE MILITIA.
| The Adjutant and Inspector General
reports that the number Of the militia ia
somewhat smaller than at the date of
the last report.
The militia is composed of the State
| Volunteer Troops, (white,) and the Ma
tional Guard (colorcd.)
The State Volunteer Troops consist of
seventy.two companies, with an enroll
ment Of 1896 men the National Guard
of nineteen companies, with an enroll
ment of 95S meE. The aggregate being
| 1854.
The Adjutant and Inspector General
recommends that there should be one
company of infantry at each Court House
and one company of cavalry in each
County.
The inspections Of the last year show
marked improvement in some of the
companies, and especially in the cavalry.
The amount to which companies were
entitled from the appropriation of last
year and the unexpended balance on
hand was $l.9li for each man present in
uniform at the inspection. The Adiu-
tant and Inspector General reports that
II more liberal aid is not granted some
of the companies will be forced to dis
band, Us the men are unable to bear the
expense incident to the service.
In June last, convention compose
chiefly Of officers of different organiza-
tions belonging TO the Volunteer State
Troops met in this city for the purpose
OF devising means whereby the militia
force may be made more efficient. This
convention, as | am informed, will pre-
sent to tho General Assembly memorial
setting forth the needs Of the militia and
praying for certain amendments to the
militia laws. This memorial will embody
the views of those who are formiliar with
the entire subject, and invite for it your
careful consideration.
The present militia force is sufficiently
large for all purposes, but its more
thorough organization and discipline
and increased efficiency are greatly to be
desired.
THE RAILROAD COMMISSION.
The Railroad Commission was organ.
lied January 10, 1883. In order to carry
out the provisions of the law under which
they were to act, it was necessary for
the Commission TO prepare themselves
by full and careful examination of tho
many questions involved in the discharge
of their duties.
can bear testimony to the fact that
tho Commissioners have labored faith
fully and zealously in the earnest effort
to administer the law fairly, aud with
duo regard to the interests Of the rail.
| roads on the one hand and of the people
on the other. 1t should not be matter
of surprise, when the difficulties of the
task imposed on tho Commissioners are
considered, that the results of their ef
forts have not been entirely satisfactory.
How far the law will fulfill tho purposes
which it was designed TO accomplish
cannot be known without further time to
test it fully in all its details.
For reasons which are given in tho
report of the Commission, the schedule
OF freight and passenger rates did not 20
into. effect until September 18th last.
Under this schedule, as stated in the
report, freight and passenger rates have
been reduced. Tho report shows that ali
complaints which have been made to the
Commission in writing have been adjust.
ed, SO far as such adjustment was prac.
ticable.
| have endeavored to inform myself of
the practical working of the law, that
might offer. for the consideration of the
General Assembly, suggestions rs to such
notifications as it might be proper to
make at this session. The short period
! of time which has elapsed since the
adoption of the schedule of rates has
not been sufficient to enable me to make
suggestions as to material modification
of the law with any confidence in the
correctness of my conclusions.
invite careful attention to the report
of the Commission, which contains
much valuable information as to the op.
GRAFTON of the law and of the condition
of the railroads in the State
b
STATE HOUSE.
| BY concurrent resolution passed at
the last scsson of the General Assembly,
| was requested to obtain estimates of
the cost of completing the State House
in detail according to the original
design; how much Of the labor Of the
Penitentiary convicts can be judiciously
employed on the said building, and to
report the same to this session of the
General Assembly. The resolution
further provided that the expenses Of
the investigation should be paid from the
| Governors contingent fund. After cor
responding with Mr.. J. R. Niernsee, of
Baltimore, Maryland, the architect who
! designed the building and who superin-
tended its construction until the work
was stopped in 1864, employed him to
make the estimates called for by the res
olution. Mr.. Niernsee stated that it
would be necessary for him to come to
| Columbia to inspect the building and
take measurement of it and of the ma
terial on hand, and that it would require
his time and that Of an assistant for two
months to prepare the estimates. He
stated further that it would De important
for him to be in Columbia at some time
during tho session, TO give such informa-
ton rs the members of the General
Assembly might desire. He agreed to
do all of this work for 5000. AS the
estimates include drawings not in dupli-
cate, they cannot be transmitted to both
branches Of the General Assembly. NV
correspondence with the architect and
his estimates and drawings are on file in
the Executive Office, awaiting such dis
position as you may order. The cost of
completing the building as estimated BY
the architect is $733, 3,475.
In submitting this report in accordance
with the request of the General Assembly,
! feel it my duty to call attention to the
fact stated by the architect, that the pres