Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-12-03
=. DECEMBER 3, 1885.

ton they will be returned to the depart
ment building in Columbia, and will form
the nucleus for permanent museum.
STATE AGRICULTURAL AND MECHNICAL
SOCIETY.
The recent annual fair of this society was
one of the most successful ever held. The
exhibits exceeded largely those of any pre-
viOus year, and the number of persons in
attendance was equalled but once before in
the history of the society. The exhibition
was particularly gratifying as showing the
marked improvement resulting from great
er attention to the breeding of live stock.
The annual fairs Of the society give a
strong impetus to the development of our
mechanical and agricultural industries, and
they are especially useful as the means OF
bringing together in pleasant social inter-
course, citizens from all parts of the State.
l recommend that the appropriation OF
S2, 800 heretofore made in aid of the society
be continued.
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
invite your attention to the report OF
the State Board of Health, which contains
much valuable information relating to the
sanitary condition Of the State, and makes
useful suggestions for its Improvement.
THE MILITIA.
The report of the adjutant and inspector
general shows that the State militia is in
very fair condition. The State Nolun-
teer Troops, with only one or two excep-
tions, are we'll drilled and take great in
terest in their duties. The increased apprO-
priation for the present year of four dollars
per capita has added greatly to the efficien-
cy of the militia in enabling them to pur-
chase the regulation uniform or other nee
essary equipments.
A decided Improvement has taken place
in the cavalry. The troops are nearly all
we'll mounted and present a creditable ap-
pearance.
Since 1869, when the Governor of the
State exhausted the annual quota received
from the United States Government for 80
years in advance by drawing 10000 stands
of arms and accoutrements, no arms have
been received by South Carolina from the
annual appropriations made by Congress.
After repeated efforts, our Senators and
Representatives in Congress succeeded in
February last in having an Act passed
which relieved the State of this obligation
to the General Government. Under the
terms of this Act the chief of ordnance has
credited the State with the sum Of $780,
Gil 49, the amount Of the annual quota for
1885 is S4,176.34, making total sum OF
$50, ,7S7.76 due the State. Against this cred
it, arms, ordnance stores, &C., to the amount
of $21 ,273.50 have been drawn, leaving a
balance of S9,5l4.26 still due the State.
With portion of this amount it is pro-
posed, if satisfactory arrangements can be
Washington, to obtain tents and equip
ments for the infantry encampments.
RAILROAD COMMISSION.
The report of the commission states that
there has been a decrease in the number OF
complaints filed, and that, through the
prompt and harmonious action of the Off
cials connected with the various roads, a
much more convenient form of classification
has been adopted.
The commissioners say that, in conse-
uuence of the financial depression prevail.
ing throughout the country, but few rail.
roads have realized profits during the last
fiscal year, and that to many roads the re-
suit has been most unfavOrable; but that
Notwithstanding this fact, eight of the roads
in the State show an increase over the busi.
ness of the previous year, and ten show q
small percentage Of decrease.
The number of miles of new road con.
structed was greater than during any one
year of the past ten years. The report
furnishes full statements of the action Of
the commissioners for the year and con-
tains much valuable statistical informa
ton.
STATE HOUSE.
The Act passed at the last session of the
General Assembly, ''to provide for the
completion of the main building of the State
House," appropriated $4,000 to defray the
expenses of continuing the construction fol
the year 1885, and appointed the Governor
the secretary Of State and the comptroller
general commission to make the necessa
ry contracts, including the employment Of
an architect.
The commission organized on the End Of
January last. Mr.. j. r. Niernsee, the dis
tinguished architect who designed the
building, and who superintended its con-
struction until the work was suspended in
1864, was appointed architect. He entered
upon the discharge of his duties and began
the preparation of the plans and estimates
for the completion of the building. When
the estimates for the granite work were
ready, bids to be submitted by the 10th Of
June were called for by advertisement. In
consequence of the death of Mr.. Niernsee,
which occurred earlyin June, the bids were
not opened until after the selection of his
successor, Mr.. J. G.. Nelson, of Baltimore,
Md. The lowest bid, that of the Westham
Granite Company, of Richmond, Va, for
S57, ,OO5, was accepted After the contract
was made, all of the stone bausters required
for present use were found in the basement
Of the building, thereby reducing the outlay
for granite work by $4,000. Some addition
al cost will arise from the fact that the
amount of cut stone on hand, which formed
part of the consideration Of the contract, is
less than that estimated, and also because
- l. TO hnx,
the old stone to make it correspond with
the new. The architect reports that the
present roof is in bad condition, and that
the cutters and spouts will require about
$3.50 for renewal, unless the new roof is put
on in 1886. The underground drains for
carrying off the rain water have been put
in perfect order, and nearly all the work
necessary for connecting the sewerage OF the
building with the river has been completed
The report of the architect will give detail
ed information of the work proposed for the
coming year. Two plans are suggested for
increasing the accommodations now afford
ed in the building. The architect states
that the work for the next year, and conse.
quently, the appropriation to be made, will
depend upon the selection of one of these
plans by the General Assembly, and that a
sum varying from SS0,00O to Sl2O,OOO can be
expended with advantage according to the
plan selected. Much of the work, including
the making of brick, can be done by convict
labor.
CRIMINAL COURTS.
The necessity for some changes in our
Criminal Courts is apparent. The trial JUS
tice system, which was intended to relieve
the Circuit Court of General Sessions by
providing inferior Courts in which petty of:
fences could be tried readily and at small
cost, has failed to fulfill the purpose which
it was designed to accomplish. 1t tisproper,
therefore, that l recommend, for the consid-