The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-02-27
COLUMBIA LETTER,
A BATCH OF INTERESTING ITEMS
FROM THE STATE CAPITAL.

A BATCH OF INTERESTING ITEMS
FROM THE STATE CAPITAL.
The Cold Snap and Its Effects What is
Doing in Politics--Evcnts. of Greater or
Less Interest to the People of South
Carolina.
COLUMBIA, Feb. 23.-Special: The
capital city has about recovered from
the freeze-which, by the way, was
unprecedented. There has been snow
before-sleet demonstrating before
but not of the extent or the kind ex-
perienced last week and the early por-
ton of this. The weather is wintry
still, but the sun shines, and the
streets are not fit for folks to walk in
without rubbers. There was a good
deal of suffering. The weather put
ting an end to business, many people
were thrown out of employment for
the time-and these of the class who
live by their daily labor. Charitable
people and benevolent organizations
came to the rescue, however, and
much has already been done for the re-
lief of the sufferers. Business has
commenced again, and soon we shall,
in the enjoyment of the beautiful
spring for which Columbia is proven
bal, will be so we'll upon us that we
shall have quite forgotten the freeze.
ABOUT POLITICS.
Considering that this is an "off
year," and that even the fight over the
Constitutional Convention ought not
to commence for some months yet, we
are having a good deal of politics on
| hand.
The meeting of the convention call
ed by "the forty" has been postponed.
But there was, first, the conference,
between Representative Conservatives
and Reformers, and then the issuance
of the address of the Democratic State
Executive Committee. The confer
ence was held with closed doors, and
Fall the participants have been dogged-
ly reticent about the proceedings. It
is stated land the statement appears to
have commanded general credence)
that the conclusion reached was about
thus: The two factions, in each coun-
ty, are to have equal representation in
the Convention. In the counties en-
titled to an uneven number of dele
gates, the odd delegate is to be as
signed to that faction which carried
the county in 1892. Such is the news
paper account of the action of the
conference. Until there shall be some
authoritative statement of the matter,
people may amuse themselves with
conjectures on the possible effects Of
the alleged plan of settlement, on the
party and on the Republican enemy.
| THE NORMAL COLLEGE.
Much interest has centered in the
choice of President of the State Nor
NAL and Industrial College at Rock
Hill. 1t was said that there were
several applicants, but the board Of
trustees seemed to have made up their
minds in advance of the meeting.
Prof. D. B. Johnson, superintendent
OF the city schools of Columbia, and of
the Winthrop Training School, was
unanimously elected to the position.
Prof. johnson is admirably equipped
for the position. A frst-Ronor grad
uate of the University of Tennessee,
he has been actively engaged in school
work for the past eighteen years. He
organized the system of common
schools in this city, and his good work
is shown in their great efficiency and
popularity. He originated the Win
throp Training School here. The
trustees of the Woman's College, at
their meeting, handled only routine
business of no public interest. The
election of professors is to take place
on the 18th of May.
| THE VOLUNTEERS ENLIST.
The Richland Volunteer Rifle Com
pany, commanded by Capt. Joseph K.
Alston, at their meeting last might, de-
cided, after very full consideration
of the subject, to enlist in the State
militia under the Act passed at the re-
cent session Of the Legislature. The
action of the men is said to have been
unanimous. The Volunteer Rifle
Company is one of the oldest military
organizations in the country It's rec.
ord is isthroughout most honorable
Ole.
THE NEW, FACTORY,
Ground has been broken for the
Richland Mill. A large force of
hands has already been put at work
by Col. Coleman, the contractor, and
! no time will, be lost in pushing the
mill to It's completion. Mr.. R. S.
Pringle has been placed in charge of
the company's property as general
superintendent. He expects to rush
things through, and within seventy
five good working days, fair weather
prevailing, he hopes to have the big
mill building closed in.
THE STATES wATERPOWER.
The Supreme Court has just decided
a case of some interest to the State at
large. When the Columbia canal was
ceded to the city, the State reserved
500 horse power, for the use of the
penitentiary. When the Electric Light
Company started business the water
power was procured under contract
with the penitentiary authorities
Afterwards the owners of the canal
(who purchased it from the City of
Columbia) brought suit against the
Electric Light Company, to restrain
them from using the waterpower-
this on the ground that such use was
confined, by the terms of the law, to
the penitentiary, and could not be
leased or transferred to other parties.
,Tudpe Hudson decided for the Electric