The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-17

/ the fire was easily confined to the burning
building.
( J. Henry Toole of Rockhill lisa candidate for
the office of register Of deeds for the Distrlct OF
Columbia. which position for number Of years
( has been held by q cOlOred man. His petitions,
with the hearty Endorsement Of the business
men Of this place. as likewise the Endorsement
OF Influential men throughout the state, have
already been filed. Toole has always been a
faithful democrat, and his career in behalf OF
the Democratic party Is brilliant one. He IS
thoroughly capable of filing the position. He
has recently returned from Washington, where
he was much encouraged.
Chairman Duncan of the railroad commission
has issued a call for a convention OF traiiic
managers at Colum bia May = In explanation
OF the call he says that while in Charleston ne
was asked TO allow the traffic managers TO APP
pear before the board on the rate question, and
that he has decided TO call the meeting. He was
not told why the traffic meu wanted the meet
ing and really does not know what is coming up
at the meeting A railroad man was asked for his
Interpretation Of the call, and said that the
roads were simply going to try and show the
commission that they cannot make anything on
the present traffic rates. and that the railroads
in fairness and Justice 20 themselves wanted
an increase in certain rates,
The extensive lumber and planning mill plant
of Bridgers and Rankin at Atkins, three miles
west of Magnolia. was entirely destroyed by fire
Saturday afternoon, together with about 3OO, 600
feet of lumber, the loss aggregatiug about S4U,-
900. This is q severe blow to the community,
more men. and it is not known whether or not
the plant will be replaced The loss is said 10
be partially covered by insurance. Besides the
loss OF the mill property the railroads. both the
Wilmington. Columbia and Augusta and the
South and North Carolina, Of which Atkins is the
southern terminus, lost considerable track and
seven or eight cars loaded with lumber we're
burned. the track behind them having burned
before they could be removed. The fire started
from some burning slabs IN tie yalg, and the
wind was so high that all efforts to check II
- hat
the Wilmington, Columbia and Augusta depot
was saved, although it was seemingly far enough
from the mill site to be out Of danger
Private Secretary Tompkins for the past few
days has been arranging the applications and
recommendations that nave been recetV we'd at the
governors office for the positions of membars
OF the county boards Of control Mr.. Tompkins
says that there is almost an unlimited number
of applications already on file in the office and so
far as he knows the men who are indorsed for
the positions are generally very good. In a
number of cases, he said, the names were those
Of the very best men in those counties, and he
thought that good men would be selected in
every county. In a great many counties petit
tious are already being circulated by pros
pective county barkeepers by which they can
secure their Jobs. In most cases the work is
very slow, aud freeholders are not at all anxious
to sign the petitions In Orangeburg il is stated
that Mr.. Kellar has secured a majority of the
freeholders TO sign bis petition. st, Matthew'S
which still has hopes of being made the county
scat u OdtEOuu Guilty. has llDk GhusLlb bilp ulo
peusary fever, and Il is said that a recently cir
culated petition failed to secure the uajority of
signatures necessary. In this instance, it is al
legged, the Baptist church influence worked
against asking for dispensary.
The returns OF all the railroads, showing their
earnings for the month of February, have now
been received by the commission. except those
of the Richmond and Danviile syst IN. They
indicate that this months record will be most
decided improvement over last months which
was the best made by the roads in O finanC al
way for year or So AS compared to the same
month last year there are up to date only two
roads in the state which show a decrease in
earnings. They are the Georgetown and West
cru, whose decrease Is $3.50 IS, and The Whining
ton. Columbia and Augusta, whose decrease Is
SS52 81. This decrease OF the Wilmington. Co
luuba and Augusta has already been accounted
for by the opening of the Wilson Short Cut.
through which the Coast Line travel now goes.
The great difference made by this change is
shown by the enormous increase in the earn
ings of the Florence railroad, portion Of this
Short Cut. This road shows an increase Of
S1l,013 90, or 2i0E per cent. All the through
lines for the north show by their increases that
northern travel is now much larger than has
been known for years The Georgia, Carolina
and Northern road heads the list OF increases
and shows why it can afford TO put on ifs
through vestibule train. It shows an increase
of S30,529 IS or 223 So per cent. The Increase Of
some of the other roads are as follows: Charles
ton and Savannah. s., 240 r. or 1881 per cent;
Three Cs, S2.2 0S or l4.44 per cent North
eastern, $5,s2S 95 or s % per cent; South
Bound, SS.0(2 so or 54.29 per cent; South Caro-
lima, S775 II 57 per cent.