Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-08-02
APPLYING NOTES.

Naval Stores Business-LocaI Matters
County Politics-Decrease of Crime,
Etc.
BAILEY, GA, July 30.-Times have
been unusually dull in this county ever
since the coming in of this year. Every
branch of business seems to be more or
less depressed compared with last year,
notably the naval stores business. The
prices of naval stores have ruled so low
the whole season that manufacturers
have hardly been able to
make ends meet. Parties who
were encouraged two years ago by the
high prices Of naval stores ruling at that
time to mortgage their property to raise
money to go into the business, find them
selves now near the end Of the season as
deep in debt as when they commenced
and with exhausted farms. How they eX-
pect to lift these mortgages, l don't
know. The timber business-that is,
cutting and carrying timber down the
Altamaha river to Darien market, which
few years ago was a source of considerable
revenue to this county, so far as this
immediate section is concerned, has
petered out. 1t having become unprOft-
able, the people were forced to give 1t up.
Naval stores, the principal industry of
this county, being depressed, mercantile
business is depressed proportIonately.
From my observation, where merchants
sold $40 worth of goods last year they sell
So worth this year. The failure of crops
in this section last year, which was
almost complete ON account of the
drought, has also helped to make
times hard: Crops, however, are
much better this year, and we may pre-
dict better times for another year. Up to
June this season was the best for years.
The excessive rains during the month of
June and a portion of this month injured
crOns little, but not enough to affect the
general crop materially. The peach crop
is unusually fine. The melon crop was
cut short by too much rain. NOtwith-
standing the hard times, etc, this has
been IA summer of unusual gaiety among
the people around here, judging from the
number of picnics, festivals, etc., they
have had.
There was a picnic at Mr.. g. F. Mel
toms school house near this place short
time ago, which / am told was quite a
pleasant affair. Parties attending from
this place came back very much pleased.
One of the best, and perhaps most enjoy
able, things of the season was the grand
masquerade ball at the Centennial House
at this place on July %. On account of
the hot weather, ETC., it was thought by
some that this ball would not be sue
cess, but, when it came off, the eXpecta-
tions of the most sanguine were more
than realized. TO the energies @of Mr..
j. G. Geiger, proprietor of the Centen-
NAL, is due the success of this affair. Mr..
Geiger promises to give another ball in
the fall, which he hopes to make eclipse
the one of the I'D.
Politics have been running very high in
this county for several months. According
to the rotation rule this county (Appling)
is entitled to the Senator from this, the
Third Senatorial district this time. Hon. l..
johnson, Of Graham, and DR.. Il. II. Pat
tersOn, of this place, are the candidates. L
understand Rev. Sarvis, of Jesup, has an
nounced himself candidate for Senator
on what he calls the "Old Wing Republic
can" ticket. From what we have seen and
heard we are not disposed to think that
the "Old Wing Republican" ticket will
make very fast race, the cOlored race
not seeming to care to cast their votes in
that direction, and all the whites in the
district ng straighOut Democrats. SO
if Rev. SarYis does not import votes we
do not see where he expects to get them
from. Both Mr.. Johnson and DR.. Patter-
son are staunch Democrats, and are
emminently worthy of the sufrages of
the people, and either would represent
the district with credit to themselves and
to their constituency.
w. w. Beach of this place, and Mr..
VIM. Stewart, of the county, are the
candidates for the lower House of the
Legislature. Mr.. Beach has many friends,
and some of them predict an easy walk
over for him. From what we can see,
Mr.. Stewart also has a very good backing.
Aspirants for county offices have general
ly come to the front, but haven't been
doing much electioneering as yet.
Since the conviction of Lowery crime
has been considerably on the decrease in
this county. A year ago it was very
common thing to hear of cutting or
shooting scrape among the negroes.
Such occurrences are hardly ever heard of
now. 1 understand there was a con-
siderable row at Graham a few days ago
among the whites, pistols and knives
being f1ourished freely, but no blood shed.
The temperance movement of this place,
which fOurished so last year, is now
little on the decline, but it is to be hoped
ere long it will receive a stimulus that
will give it its old popularity. j. I'll.